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FIRST    REFORMED    DUTCH    CHURCH,    NEW-BRUNSWICK.    N.  J 
Dedicatkd  September  27,  1S12. 


HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE 


DELIV-ERED  AT  THE 


CELEBRATION 


OF  THE 

FIRST  REFOEMED  DUTCH  CHURCH, 

NEW-BRUNSWICK,  N.  J., 
OCTOBER    1,   18G7. 


EICHAKD     H.  '^STEELE,    D.  D. 


PASTOR   OF   THE    CIlUKCn. 


New-Brtxnswick,  N.  J. : 
I'TJELISHEr)    BY    THIi;    COjSTSISTORV. 

1867. 


JOHN    A,    CRAY    &    GREEN,    PRINTERS.    16     AND    18    JACOS    STREET,    NEW-Y(}R<. 


PREFACE. 


The  First  Reformed  Dutch  Churcli  of  !N'ew-Brunswick, 
]Sr.  J.,  completed  her  One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  year, 
April  12th,  1867.  The  precise  date  of  organization  was 
not  ascertained  until  quite  recently.  'No  written  history 
of  the  church  has  ever  been  published.  The  task  would 
have  been  one  of  comparative  ease  fifty  years  ago.  Then 
the  children  of  the  early  settlers  were  still  living  ;  records 
were  in  existence  which  have  since  perished  with  the 
disuse  of  the  Dutch  language  ;  and  important  documents 
which  would  have  been  of  great  value  in  forming  our 
narrative  have  been  lost  or  destroyed.  The  recovery  of 
our  early  book  of  records,  incomplete  as  it  is,  has  been 
of  incalculable  benefit.  But  I  have  searched  in  vain  for 
publications  of  Rev.  Mr.  Leydt,  Jacobus  Schureman, 
Hendrick  Fisher,  and  papers  relating  to  the  controversies 
during  the  times  of  Rev.  T.  J.  Frelinghuysen,  which  are 
known  to  have  been  in  existence  at  the  beginning  of  the 
century. 

We  have  endeavored  to  produce  a  history  during  a 
long  period  when  there  were  no  records  of  consistory 
kept,  and  have  gathered  many  of  our  facts  from  traditions 
which  yet  remain  with  some  distinctness  among  the  peo- 


IV  PREFACE. 

pie.  Our  work  is  not  complete,  but  that  we  have  given 
to  it  no  small  amount  of  labor  will  be  understood  by  those 
who  have  undertaken  similar  productions.  It  will  be 
found  to  present  many  facts  extending  beyond  our  par- 
ticular church,  and  embrace  materials  relating  to  the 
town  of  interest  to  all  our  citizens. 

The  pastor  would  express  his  particular  acknowledg- 
ments to  his  own  people  who  have  kindly  assisted  him  in 
his  investigations,  and  have  directed  him  to  sources  of  im- 
portant information.  He  has  found  the  volumes  of  Wil- 
liam A.  Whitehead,  Esq.,  and  the  Historical  Discourse 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Corwin,  of  great  value  in  compiling  the  early 
part  of  his  narrative.  He  is  indebted  to  the  publications 
of  Dr.  Messier  and  Rev.  William  Demarest,  in  writing  his 
history  of  the  life  and  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Frelinghuy- 
sen.  Dr.  W.  B.  Sprague  has  kindly  given  him  access  to 
his  unpublished  volume  of  the  biographies  of  ministers 
of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  which  we  hope  will  soon 
be  issued  from  the  press.  His  thanks  are  due  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Demarest,  for  translations  from  the  Dutch  of  letters  of 
Jufvrow  Hardenbergh,  and  for  extracts  from  her  journal ; 
to  Mrs.  Hanson,  for  important  information  in  reference  to 
her  father,  Dr.  Condict ;  to  Hon.  Ralph  Voorhees,  for  pa- 
pers relating  to  his  ancestor,  Minne  Yan  Voorhees,  and 
for  the  draft  prepared  by  himself  and  Mr.  N.  W.  Par- 
sells,  from  which  was  produced  the  accurate  sketch,  by 
Mr.  Thomas  N".  Doughty,  of  the  "Old  Stone  Churclf 
erected  in  1767,  and  which  gave  such  interest  to  our  An- 
niversary ;  to  Mr.  John  W.  Warnshuise,  for  his  assistance 
in  translating  our  early  Dutch  records  ;  and  to  the  surviv- 
ing pastors  especially  for  their  information  and  encou- 
ragement in  preparing  the  history. 

The  Historical  Discourse,  which  comprises  the  main 
body  of  this  volume,  owes  its  publication  to  the  following 


'  PREFACE.  V 

action  of  Consistory,  communicated  through  a  committee 
appointed  for  that  purpose  : 

"New-Bruxswick,  October  8,  18G7. 
"  Rev.  Richard  II.  Steele,  DD.  : 

"  Dear  Sir  :  By  the  unanimous  resolution  of  Consistory,  we  hereby  thank 
you  for  the  valuable  and  interesting  Historical  Discourse  delivered  October 
1st,  1867,  on  the  occasion  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Anniversary  of 
the  founding  of  our  church,  and  request  you  to  furnish  a  copy  for  publi- 
cation, with  suitable  notes  and  appendices,  together  With  the  sermon 
preached  on  the  succeeding  Sabbath. 

"  Very  sincerely  yours, 

Lewis  Applegate, 
Johnson  Letson." 

The  Anniversary  was  celebrated  on  the  day  mentioned 
in  the  above  note,  with  suitable  commemorative  exercises. 
Invitations  had  been  extended  to  former  members  of  the 
congregation  and  their  descendants,  to  unite  with  us  in 
the  services  connected  with  this  interesting  occasion.  On 
the  morning  of  that  day  the  following  Discourse  v/as  in 
part  delivered  ;  but  as  the  material  which  had  been  gath- 
ered was  deemed  too  important  to  be  lost,  it  is  now  com- 
mitted to  the  press  as  it  was  originally  prepared. 

The  account  of  the  celebration,  with  the  addresses  de- 
livered on  the  occasion,  forming  the  second  j)art  of  this 
volume,  was  prepared  under  the  direction  of  the  commit- 
tee, and  will  be  found  a  correct  transcrij)t  of  an  Anniver- 
sary long  to  be  remembered. 

The  pastor  sends  forth  this  volume  among  his  people 
and  the  friends  of  the  church,  with  the  prayer  that  this 
humble  effort  to  produce  the  history  of  one  of  the  most 
important  congregations  of  our  denomination,  may  be  the 
means  of  awakening  within  us  a  new  sense  of  our  respon- 
sibilit}^  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  serve  to  advance 
the  interests  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom. 

Parsonage   House,  No.  106   George   Street,  ( 
New-Brunswick,  N.  J.,  December  1,  1867.     ( 


§m  ^tnttrri^tr  irnb  Mifti^tlj  ^nnit)^r6a:rg 


FIRST  EEFORMED  DUTCH  CHURCH, 

New-Brunswick,  October  1,  1867. 


The  following  was  the  Order  of  Exercises  : 

Invocalion  and  Heading  f/ie  Scriptures. 
Rev.  GABRIEL  LUDLOW,  D.D. 

Grayer. 
Rev.  ISAAC  FERRIS,  D.D. 

Singing. 
Celebration  Hymn,  Written  by  Rev.  PETER  STRYKER,  D.D. 

Hisforicat  Discourse. 
Rev.  RICHARD  H.  STEELE,  D.D. 

Singing. 
Ode,  Written  by  Prof.  DAVID  MURRAY. 

Senediciion. 
Rev.  THOMAS  De  WITT,  D.D. 


AFTEEl^OOK 

^ntAem . 
BY  THE  CHOIR. 
c4ddresses. 
Rev.  THOMAS  DE  WITT,  D.D: 
Rev.  S.  M.  WOODBRIDGE,  D.D. 
Rev.  CHARLES  S.  HAGEMAN,  D.D. 
Rev.  WILLIAM  H.  CAMPBELL,  D.D. 
Rev.  P.  D.  VAN  CLEEF,  D.D. 
Rev.  DAVID  D.  DEMAREST,  D.D. 

Prop.  DAVID  MURRAY. 

Grayer. 

Rev.  p.  D.  OAKEY. 

Doxology.  jBenediction. 


heading  the  Scriptures  and  T'rayer. 
Rev.  Prof.  JOSEPH  F.  BERG,  D.D. 

Singing. 

The  Third  Jubilee,  Written  by  Rev.  JOHN  B.  STEELE, 

,si.ddress . 

By  Senior  Ex^Pastor  Rev.  ISAAC  FERRIS,  D.D. 

S)oxoiogy.  Senediction. 


Part  Firs' 


SUCCESSION  OF  PASTORS, 


Historical  Discourse, 

BY 

RICHABD   H.   STEELE    D.D. 


SUCCESSION    OF   PASTORS 


FIRST  REFOEMED  DUTCH  CHURCH, 


NEW-BRUNSWICK. 


1.  TIIEODORUS  JACOBUS  FRELINGHUYSEN 
3.  JOHANNES  LEYDT,        .... 

3.  JACOB  RUTSEN  HARDENBERGII,  D.D., 

4.  IRA  CONDICT,  D.D., 

5.  JOHN  SCHUREMAN,  D.D.,      . 

6.  JESSE  FONDA,         .        .        .        . 

7.  JOHN  LUDLOW,  D.D.,     . 

8.  ISAAC  FERRIS,  D.D.,       . 

9.  JAMES  B.  HARDENBERGH,  D.D., 

10.  JACOB  J.  JANEWAY,  D.D.,    . 

11.  SAMUEL  B.  HOW,  D.D., 

12.  RICHARD  H.  STEELE,  D.D., 


1720  to  1748 

1748  ' 

'  1783 

1786  ' 

'  1790 

1793  ' 

'  1811 

1812  ' 

'  1813 

1818  ' 

'  1817 

1817  ' 

'  1819 

1821  ' 

'  1824 

1825  ' 

'  1829 

1830  ' 

'  1831 

1832  ' 

'  1861 

1883. 

HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 


The  Scottish  Pilgrim,  it  is  said,  in  a  spirit  of  j)ioiis 
veneration,  visited  tbe  graves  of  those  who  had  died 
martyrs,  of  religion.  His  purpose  was  to  refresh  his 
own  mind,  and  revive  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen 
the  record  of  their  noble  lives,  their  heroic  endurances, 
and  their  triumphant  deaths.  With  engraver's  chisel, 
he  went  from  churchyard  to  churchyard  over  that  land 
of  martyrs,  and  on  the  fading  stone  he  reproduced  the 
record  of  their  names,  their  sufferings,  and  their  renown. 
Our  undertakino;  this  mornino;  will  resemble  that  of 
"  Old  Mortality ;"  for  we  are  to  recall  the  names  and  re- 
vive the  record  of  a  noble  race  of  men,  who,  more  than 
one  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago,  laid  the  foundation  of 
our  civil  and  religious  institutions,  and  whose  early  sac- 
rifices and  toils,  and  earnest  piety  and  devotion,  should 
be  held  by  us  in  sacred  remembrance. 

I  am  to  give  you  a  sketch  of  the  history  of  the  origin,, 
the  progress,  the  struggles,  and  the  triumphs  of  the  Re- 
formed Protestant  Dutch  Church  of  New-Brunswick. 
This  is  the  oldest  religious  organization  in  this  city,  re- 
liable authorities  fixing  its  origin  in  the  early  part  of 
the  last  century,  and  making  it  coeval  with  the  first 
settlement  of  this  locality.  The  period  itself  is  remote 
and  interestino;.  The  most  wonderful  movements  of 
Divine  Providence  in  the   civil  and  ecclesiastical  his- 


10  HISTORICAL   DISCOUESE. 

tory  of  tlie  world  were  centring  around  this  period, 
giving  an  impulse  to  emigration,  and  marking  out  the 
distinctive  character  of  the  early  settlers.  In  England, 
the  nation  had  not  yet  subsided  from  that  mighty  civil 
commotion  whicli  had  elevated  William,  Prince  of 
Orange,  to  the  throne,  and  reasserted  the  supremacy  of 
those  fundamental  laws  of  the  land  which  had  so  long 
and  tyrannically  been  disregarded  by  the  reigning 
power.  The  revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes,  under 
Louis  XIV.,  had  driven  into  exile  more  than  five  hun- 
dred thousand  of  the  most  industrious  and  learned  citi- 
zens of  France,  who  carried  with  them  the  higher  type 
of  civilization  and  religion  in  which  the  Protestants 
greatly  excelled,  into  those  countries  which  they  se- 
lected as  their  homes.  The  Dutch  Republic,  though 
shorn  of  its  maritime  strength,  had  obtained  a  supre- 
macy in  literature  and  religion,  as  well  as  in  its  system 
of  civil  toleration,  which  rendered  it  the  model  govern- 
ment of  the  world. 

Matthew  Henry  had  not  yet  completed  his  Expo- 
sition of  the  Bible.  James  Saurin  -  had  only  recently 
commenced  the  labors  of  the  ministry  at  tlie  Hague. 
John  Wesley  had  not  yet  been  raised  up  to  stem  the 
prevailing  tide  of  formalism.  In  Holland,  her  divines 
were  justly  celebrated  for  their  extensive  learning  and 
deep  piety,  while  her  universities  and  schools  attracted 
students  from  all  parts  of  the  world.  The  celebrated 
Marck,  in  his  theological  chair  at  Leyden,  made  this 
university  one  of  the  most  renowned  on  the  continent 
of  Europe.  Vitringa,  noted  for  his  accurate  interpreta- 
tions of  the  Bible  and  his  eloquence  as  a  preacher,  gave 
celebrity  to  the  institution  at  Francker.  At  Utrecht, 
some  of  the  most  brilliant  lig^hts  shone  from  the  chairs 
of  theology  and  literature.     And  in  the  pulpit  we  find 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  11 

tlie  names  of  siicli  distinguislied  divines  as  Brake!,  Yan- 
derkemp,  and  Hellenbrook,  wliose  sound  views  of  truth 
and  deep  learning  still  skine  conspicuously  in  their 
voluminous  theoloo'ical  v\^ritin2:s.  The  first  Ensrlish 
copy  of  the  Bil)le  had  just  been  published  in  the  Ameri- 
can Colonies.  The  third  college  had  just  been  founded 
at  New-Haven ;  one  newspaper,  published  on  a  half  sheet 
of  foolscap,  was  regularly  issued  at  Boston;  the  largest 
city  w^as  New- York,  a  hamlet  of  about  six  thousand 
inhabitants ;  and  the  total  population  of  the  colonies 
had  not  yet  reached  five  hundred  thousand.  There 
were  a  few  towns  located  in  the  Province  of  New- 
Jersey,  and  only  two  ministers  of  our  denomination  in 
the  State."* 

In  compiling  the  history  of  this  church,  I  have  labored 
under  the  difficulty  experienced  in  other  quarters,  of  the 
imperfection  of  early  Consistorial  records  and  the  loss 
of  important  documents.  By  diligent  search  I  have  re- 
covered possession  of  a  volume  in  the  Dutch  language, 
which  had  been  lost  for"  upward  of  thirty  years,  con- 
taining much  valuable  information.  Some  important 
facts  are  stated  in  reference  to  the  origin  of  this  church, 
as  also  that  of  Six  Mile  Run.  It  contains  the  names  of 
the  first  Consistory,  a  complete  list  of  the  original  mem- 
bers, a  register  of  the  additions  to  the  church  at  each 
communion,  and  a  full  record  of  baptisms.  The  first 
entry  in  this  volume  bears  the  date  of  April  12th,  1717, 
and  we  are  celebrating  the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  of  New-Brunswick.  It  is  to  be  resfrettecl  that 
the  proceedings  of  Consistory  Avere  not  more  carefully 

*  Rev.  Guilliam  Bertholf  was  the  minister  of  the  church  at  Hackensack 
and  Aquackononck  from  1C94  to  1724  ;  and  Rev.  Joseph  Morgan  was  set- 
tled at  Freehold  and  Middletown  from  1709  to  1731. 


12  HISTORICAL   DISCOUESE. 

recorded  and  j)reserved,  in  tlie  absence  of  which  we 
shall  have  to  depend  ii2:)on  such  facts  as  we  can  glean 
from  the  published  minutes  of  ecclesiastical  bodies,  the 
historical  incidents  found  in  early  records,  and  the  tra- 
ditions of  the  people. 

Previous  to  commencing  the  history  of  the  church,  I 
will  be  expected  to  give  a  succinct  sketch  of  the  settle- 
ment and  development  of  the  civil  history  of  this  city 
and  country  adjacent.  My  labor  will  consist  in  arrang- 
ing materials  already  in  existence,  and  in  bringing  to 
light  some  facts  which  are  concealed  in  civil  and  eccle- 
siastical documents. 

The  earliest  instrument  fixing  the  boundary  of  the 
State  of  New- Jersey  is  a  deed  or  conveyance  granted 
by  the  Duke  of  York,  June  23d,  1664,  to  two  proprie- 
tors. Sir  James  Berkley  and  Sir  George  Carteret.  In 
the  following  year,  Philip  Carteret,  brother  of  Sir 
George,  came  over  as  governor  of  this  province,  and  de- 
vised liberal  plans  for  the  encouragement  of  emigration. 
His  plans  were  successful,  and  many  families  from  New- 
England,  enticed  by  the  liberal  constitution  which  he 
had  framed,  toolz  up  lands,  and  made  this  their  home. 
These  settlements  were  ]:)rincipally  made  in  that  portion 
of  the  territory  wliich  was  most  convenient  of  access 
from  New- York.  TJie  south  side  of  the  Karitan  river 
was  not  settled  until  about  twenty  years  after  a  large 
emigration  from  New-England  had  ^^urchased  lands  and 
located  in  the  towns  of  Bergen,  Woodbridge,  Piscata- 
way,  and  Elizabethtown.  About  this  time  a  small 
colony  located  at  Shrewsbury,  and  several  families  from 
Long  Island  settled  at  Middletown,  in  the  county  of 
Monmouth.  These  were  the  principal  settlements  uj) 
to  this  date  in  this  section  of  the  State. 

On  the  death  of  Sir  George  Carteret,  in  1679,  the 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  13 

whole  of  East-Jersey  passed  into  the  hands  of  his 
executors,  who  continued  to  carry  forward  the  govern- 
ment for  the  l)enefit  of  his  estate,  until  a  sale  of  the 
property  should  l^e  accomplished  according  to  the  pro- 
visions of  his  will.  This  sale  was  effected  in  1682,  to 
a  company  of  twelve  proprietors,  for  the  sum  of  £3400. 
In  order  to  divide  up  their  interests,  and  spread  infor- 
mation resj)ecting  their  possessions,  twelve  additional 
partners  were  received  into  the  company,  to  which 
hoard  as  now  constituted  the  Duke  of  York  made  a 
new  grant,  March  14th,  1682.  Previous  to  this  new 
arrangement,  and  while  East  New-Jersey  Avas  still  in 
the  possession  of  the  executors  of  Sir  George  Carteret, 
a  portion  of  the  territory  on  which  the  city  of  New- 
Brunswick  now  stands,  and  ahove  us  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Raritan,  "was  surveyed  and  laid  out  into  lots.  It 
is  to  the  credit  of  the  early  proprietors  of  our  State  that 
the  land  was  j)nrchased  of  the  Indians  by  honorable  and 
voluntary  transactions,  and  thus  the  settlers  were  saved 
from  the  jealousies  and  dangers  which  other  portions  of 
the  American  Colonies  experienced.  Such  a  purchase 
was  made  in  June,  1681,  by  John  Inians  &  Co.,  for  the 
benefit  of  Lady  Elizabeth  Carteret,  "  the  present  lady 
proprietrix  of  the  province,"  of  a  tract  of  land  embrac- 
ing about  ten  thousand  acres,  called  by  the  Indians 
Ahanderhamock,*  This  tract  of  land  is  described  in 
the  Indian  deed  as  lying  on  the  south  side  of  the  Rari- 
tan  river,  and  ojDposite  the  town  of  Piscataway,  under- 

*  The  purchase  was  made  of  the  Indians  Quaramark,  Sacaraaker,  and 
Camacamo,  rcpresentin.i:;  the  Queramacks  and  Camacoms.  The  amount 
paid  was  200  fathoms  of  white  wampum,  10  blankets,  20  Duffield  coats,  10 
}2;uns,  10  kettles— two  of  them  eight  gallons — 2G  yards  stroud  waters  (?), 
25  axes,  20  pairs  of  stockings,  20  shirts,  5  made  coats,  4  pistols,  GO  bars 
of  lead,  ^  barrel  powder,  25  pairs  tobacco- tongs,  2  ankers  of  rum,  2  half- 
fiitts  of  beer,  ^  anker  of  molasses,  1  traniel,  60  knives,  20  tobacco  boxes, 
25  shot,  -}  cwt.  of  bread.—  Sse  Records  of  Proprietors,  Amhoij,  vol.  ii. 
lib.  i.  p.  152. 


14  HISTORICAL   DISCOUESE, 

stood  to  commence  at  "what  is  now  called  Lawrence 
brook,  and  running  along  the  river  to  near  Bomidbrook. 
A  portion  of  this  territory  was  shortly  after  surveyed 
and  sold  to  different  parties,  and  were  subsequently 
known  as  the  Raritan  lots. 

November  10th,  1681,  Johnlnians,*  one  of  this  com- 
pany, and  a  merchant  of  New- York,  purchased  a  por- 
tion of  this  tract  containing  twelve  hundred  and  eighty 
acres,  bounded  on  the  north-east  by  the  Raritan  river, 
on  the  west  by  Andrew  Bowne,  south-east  and  south- 
west by  land  not  yet  surveyed.f  This  was  the  first 
purchase  of  land  in  what  is  now  the  city  of  New- 
Brunswick,  the  line  of  which  is  still  preserved  in  some 
of  our  ancient  deeds.  The  starting-point  w^as  a  w^hite 
oak-tree  standing  at  the  foot  of  Albany  street,  opj^osite 
the  Bell  tavern;  thence  up  the  river  one  mile  to  a  point 
near  the  residence  of  J.  Vv^arren  Scott,  Esq. ;  thence  in  a 
south-westerly  direction  for  two  miles,  or  near  the  pro- 
perty known  as  the  Biiinson  tavern;  thence  one  mile 
south-easterly  to  a  point  intersecting  the  Trenton  turn, 
pike;  thence  two  miles  north-easterly,  entering  the  city 
along  Livingston  avenue,  to  the  starting-point  at  the 
foot  of  Albany  street.  The  ten  lots  immediately  north 
of  Inians's  patent  contained  each  five  hundred  acres.  J 

*  John  Inians,  of  Raritan  river,  was  appointed  a  member  of  Governor 
Hamilton's  Council  on  September  14th,  1G92.  {WMtelieaiV  s  East- Jersey ,  p. 
134.)  Nothing  is  known  of  his  place  of  residence  or  his  history;  but  that 
he  was  a  very  extensive  purchaser  of  lands,  and  a  man  of  great  wealth  for 
the  times,  is  inferred  from  his  large  transactions  found  on  the  Records  of 
Proprietors  at  Amboy,  and  volumes  of  deeds  at  Trenton. 

t  It  is  described  as  beginning  at  a  white  oak-tree,  from  thence  running  as 
the  river  runs  eighty  chains,  thence  running  south-west  one  hundred  and 
sixty  chains,  thence  south-east  eighty  chains,  thence  two  miles  to  the  tree 
from  whence  it  first  began.  The  land  extending  west  of  the  Raritan  lots, 
embracing  nearly  all  the  original  territory  of  the  Three  ]\Iile  Run,  New- 
Brunswick,  and  Six  Mile  Run  congregations,  was  laid  out  into  four  large 
plots,  for  a  description  of  which  see  Appendix  I.,  furnished  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Corwin. 

X  They  were  owned  by  Andrew  Bowne,  Richard  Jones,  George  Foreman, 
Joseph  Snelling,  Andrew  Gibb,  Gershom  Browne,  Jeremiah  Tothill,  Joseph 


HISTOEICAL   DISCOURSE,  15 

South  of  the  city,  Thomas  Lawrence  owned  three  thou- 
sand acres,  embracing  the  stream  which  since  his  pur- 
chase has  been  called  Lawrence  brook.  This  tract  of 
land  subsequently  came  into  the  possession  of  Cornelius 
LongfiehP  and  Governor  Barclay,  while  that  of  Inians 
was  purchased  by  Pbilip  French,f  under  whose  super- 
vision farms  were  surveyed,  streets  laid  out,  and  build- 
ing-lots sold. 

The  government  of  the  twenty-four  proprietors  was 
so  liberal,  and  contrasted  so  favorably  with  the  adjoin- 
ing province  of  New- York,  that  settlers  began  to  pour 
in  from  every  direction,  and  for  the  next  twenty  years 
the  population  increased  with  great  rapidity.  The 
landholders  used  every  effort  to  induce  emigration  by 
the  liberal  terms  they  offered,  the  glowing  accounts 
they  sent  abroad  of  the  salubrity  of  the  climate,  the 
productiveness  of  the  soil,  and  the  peaceful  character 
of  the  natives.  The  orisiinal  settlers  in  our  immediate 
vicinity  were  Dutch  J  and  French  Protestants,  or  Hu- 

Benbrigge,  Thomas  Mathew,  and  Edmond  Gibbon.  The  map  of  Mr.  Corwin, 
giving  the  Earitan  lots,  was  compiled  from  Reed's  map,  1G85,  four  years 
after  the  original  purchase,  and  indicates  the  rapid  changes  which  were  now 
taking  place,  as  they  had  nearly  all  passed  into  new  hands. 

*  This  land,  constituting  a  part  of  the  lower  section  of  the  city,  Longfield 
purchased  June  6th,  1G89,  described  as  lying  on  the  Raritan  river,  opposite 
a  meadow  or  marsh  belonging  to  Charles  Oilman,  about  one  chain  and  a 
half  below  where  a  small  run  of  water  or  brook  falls  into  said  river,  from 
thence  running  south  to  a  brook  called  Lawrence  brook,  and  by  the  Indians 
Piscopock,  from  thence  running  down  said  Lawrence  brook  to  the  Raritan 
river,  and  along  the  Raritan  to  the  place  of  beginning.  John  Ryder  bought 
one  hundred  and  fifty-four  acres  of  Longfield,  March  11th,  1741,  which 
farm  is  still  owned  by  his  descendants. — Parchment  Deed  of Eyder. 

t  He  owned  a  large  tract  opposite  the  city  and  in  the  vicinity.  Instead 
of  selling  the  property  he  ordinarily  leased  it,  in  some  instances  for  two 
thousand  years.  Through  reverses  during  the  Revolutionary  War  he  became 
involved,  and  assigned  his  estate  to  James  Parker,  whose  son,  Hon.  James 
Parker,  Jr.,  of  Amboy,  gave  to  the  trustees  of  Queen's  College  the  lot  on 
which  the  present  buildings  stand. 

X  Li  a  letter  to  the  proprietors,  March,  1G84,  Gawen  Lowrie  represents 
the  Dutch  settlers  as  verj^  numerous,  and  speaks  of  a  number  who  are  de- 
siring to  take  up  land  and  settle  in  the  province. —  Whitehatdh  East-Jersey^ 
p.  289. 

Several  Dutch  families  are  known  to  have  settled  on  the  Raritan  very 


10  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE, 

giienots,'"^  and  we  can  fix  the  date  of  tlieir  occupancy 
of  this  territory  as  early  as  1684.  The  country  back  of 
us,  covering  the  rich  farming  lands  of  Three  Mile  Hun, 
Middlebush,  Six  Mile  Run,  and  onward  to  the  Mill- 
stone, and  both  above  and  below  us  on  the  Karitan, 
^vas  filled  up  when  the  central  portion  of  our  town  was 
only  known  after  the  name  of  its  proprietor  as  "  Prig- 
more's  Swamp."  Early  residents,  in  writing  to  their 
friends  at  home,  represent  the  Dutch  settlers  along  the 
Raritau  as  quite  numerous  and  industrious.  They  were 
principally  from  Long  Island  and  places  adjacent.  The 
prevailing  cause  of  their  emigration  was  the  discontent 
that  existed  among  them  in  consequence  of  the  oppres- 
sive measures  pursued  by  the  civil  authorities,  in  vex- 
ing them  in  reference  to  their  religious  preference  and 
belief  These  harsh  measures  drove  out  of  Long  Island 
and  the  vicinity  of  New- York  a  large  population,  who 
found  in  this  territory,  under  the  more  judicious  tolera- 
tion of  the  proprietors,  perfect  religious  freedom,  and 
room  for  their  love  of  honest  industry. 

There  were  other  inducements  inviting  into  our  State 
the  Hollanders  from  New- York.  Their  motive  in 
emi2;ration  from  the  fatlierland  was  different  from  that 
which  prevailed  with  the  Puritans  of  New-England, 
and  the  Scotch  and  Irish  Presbyterians  who  settled  in 
other  localities.  The  latter  were  driven  out  of  their 
country  by  persecution,  and  sought  in  the  New  World 
freedom  in  religious  worship.     The  former  had  enjoyed 

early.  Hendrick  Vroome,  at  the  landing  on  the  farm  of  the  late  Jlr.  Mundy ; 
George  Anderson,  on  the  property  recently  Dr.  McClintock's ;  the  brothers 
Christopher  and  Jacob  Probasco,  on  what  is  now  the  residence  of  Mr.  Liv- 
ingston. 

*  In  our  early  records  we  find  the  names  of  several  French  emigrants, 
among  them  many  undoubtediy  of  the  proscribed  Huguenot  race,  who  had 
been  expelled  from  the  kingdom  on  account  of  their  Protestant  principles. 
Ue  Peyster,  Rappleyea,  Van  Dujm,  La  Monies,  Le  Queer,  La  Montague,  and 
others. 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  17 

ample  toleration  in  tlieir  own  little  republic,  and  came 
across  the  water  to  "better  their  condition,"  and  "build 
up  another  university  that  should  rival  Leyden,  and 
another  city  that  should  outshine  Amsterdam.'"'  Their 
youth  had  been  sj^ent  in  a  land  which  had  been  rescued 
from  the  encroachments  of  the  sea  by  artificial  embank- 
ments, and  they  had  learned  the  art  of  industry  loug 
before  they  had  encountered  the  hardshi2:)s  of  this  new 
land.  Comiug  over  the  w^ater  with  such  intentions, 
they  naturally  sought  the  best  soil  and  climate,  and 
situations  where  they  could  build  up  their  institutions 
mth  less  fear  of  molestation.  All  these  advantao-es 
the  Province  of  New-Jersey  afforded,  and  its  very  loca- 
tion reminded  them  of  their  former  Belgian  homes, 
while  the  facilities  afforded  them  for  sending  their  pro- 
duce to  the  growing  markets  of  Amboyf  and  New- York 
by  river  commimication,  urged  a  new^  motive  for  their 
emigration.  Proverbially  fond  of  water-courses,  and  of 
the  flat  country  which  I'eminded  them  of  their  old 
homes  in  Holland,  they  bought  farms  running  down  to 
the  Raritan  as  they  had  opportunity,  and  showed  their 
Dutch  caution  by  not  getting  too  far  inland. 

The   earliest   reference  we   have   to   the  particular 
locality  where  New-Brunswick   now  stands  is  in  the 

"  See  "Oration  on  the  Conquest  of  New-Netherland,"  before  the  New- 
York  Historical  Societ}',  by  the  historian,  J.  Romeyn  Brodhead.  He  says 
with  great  force:  "It  was  for  the  true  interest  of  America  that  New-York 
was  founded  by  the  Batavian  race.  That  founding  produced  our  own  mag- 
nanimous and  cosmopoHtan  State,  the  influence  of  which  on  our  nation  has 
always  been  so  happy  and  so  healthful." 

t  The  design  of  the  settlers  was  to  make  Amboy  the  first  city  of  New- 
Jersey — the  "London  of  America."  A  city  charter  was  granted  August 
24th,  1718,  by  Governor  Robert  Hunter.  Its  fine  harbor,  eligible  situation, 
and  healthy  locality  would  seem  to  indicate  a  rapid  growth.  But,  as  the 
historian  Smith  remarks  in  1765,  by  a  fatality  it  never  became  a  place  of 
extensive  trade.  Samuel  Groom,  the  surveyor-general  at  its  first  settlement 
in  1G83,  with  an  eye  to  its  future  history,  laments,  '"  If  no  help  comes,  it  will 
be  long  ere  Amboy  be  built  as  London  is." — WAitehecuVs  Amboy,  pp.  2,  0, 
50,  54. 

2 


18  HISTORICAL   DISCOUESE. 

account  of  a  traveler  "by  tlie  name  of  AYilliam  Ed- 
mundson,'"''  a  minister  of  tlie  society  of  Friends  in 
England,  who  passed  tlirougli  tlie  State  witli  an  Indian 
guide  in  1677,  on  what  was  then  an  Indian  path,  after- 
ward erected  into  a  public  highway.  After  crossing 
the  ford  at  this  place  at  low  water,  and  penetrating 
inland  about  ten  miles,  he  lost  his  way  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and  was  a  whole  day  in  retracing  his  path  to  the 
Raritan  river.  At  night  he  encamj^ed  in  the  woods, 
kindling  a  lire  for  protection  from  the  wild  animals. 
This  Indian  path  was  afterward  erected  into  an  im- 
portant road,  j)assing  through  the  State  from  Elizabeth- 
town  Point  to  a  spot  on  the  Delaware  river  in  the 
vicinity  of  Trenton.  The  travel  on  this  route  became 
a  matter  of  so  much  importance  that  a  grant  Avas  given 
to  John  Inians  and  his  wife,  December  2d,  1697,  to 
ferry  passengers  across  the  river,  for  which  privilege  he 
was  to  pay  the  annual  rent  of  five  shillings  sterling.f 
The  ]Dlace  was  called  "Inians's  Feriy"  or  "The  River" 
for  about  eighteen  years. 

Probably  about  this  date  (1697)  a  few  buildings  be- 
gan to  spring  up  around  this  centre,  wharves  were  built 
at  the  foot  of  Albany  street,  and  vessels  from  Amboy 
and  New- York  began  to  make  their  regular  trips. 
Mechanics  set  up  their  places  of  business  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  their  neighbors,  and  enterprising  shop- 
keepers erected  their  stores  and  exposed  their  wares  to 
the  farmers  who  came  down  to  the  river  for  barter  or 


*  See  Whitehead's  Bast- Jersey,  p.  95. 

t  The  ferry  at  first  provided  only  for  pedestrians  and  horsemen.  Even 
in  1716,  in  the  rates  allowed  by  the  Assembly,  mention  only  is  made  of 
"horse  and  man"  and  "single  persons."  The  faciUties  for  traveling  did 
not  develop  very  rapidly.  In  1704,  the  New-York  paper  complains  that  in 
the  "pleasant  month  of  May,  the  last  storm  put  our  Pennsylvania  mail  a 
weeJc  lehind,  and  is  not  yet  coni'd  in^ — Whitehead's  Amhoy,  pp.  269,  273  ; 
East- Jersey,  162. 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE,  19 

news.  This  was  the  begiuning  of  our  town.  The  name 
of  "Prigmore's  Swamp"  had  been  exchanged  for  that 
of  "Inians's  Ferry"  about  the  year  IGOY,  and  now  the 
accession  of  the  House  of  Brunswick  to  the  British 
throne  in  1714,  induced  the  loyal  Dutch  inhabitants  to 
dignify  the  village  with  the  name  of  the  reigning  family, 
New-Brunswick. 

Robert  Hunter,  the  royal  governor  of  the  province, 
residing  at  Perth  Aniboy  from  1709  to  171 9,  frequently 
visited  this  place,  and  eleven  years  after  his  return  to 
Europe  wrote  to  his  agent,  Mr.  Alexander,  for  informa- 
tion in  respect  to  the  value  of  property  around  Inians's 
Ferry,  desiring  to  purchase  five  or  six  hundred  acres,  if 
in  his  judgment  it  would  prove  a  profitable  investment. 
Mr.  Alexander  was  very  enthusiastic  in  his  description 
of  the  place,  stating  that,  during  his  residence  of  fifteen 
3'ears,  New-Brunswick  had  grown  very  rapidly,  for  the 
reason  that  the  country  back  of  this  had  improved 
quite  fast.  The  farmers  principally  raised  wheat,  and 
the  facilities  of  the  large  mills  in  the  vicinit}^  rendered 
this  an  important  flouring  mart.  "  As  New-Bruns- 
wick," he  adds,  "  is  the  nearest  landing,  it  necessarily 
makes  this  the  store-house  for  all  the  produce  that  they 
send  to  market,  which  has  drawn  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  people  to  settle  there,  insomuch  that  a  lot  of 
ground  is  here  grown  to  near  as  great  a  price  as  so 
much  ground  in  the  heart  of  New-  Yorhy-' 

About  this  time  (1730)  several  families  emigrated, 
from  Albany,  N.  Y. ;  and  the  tradition  is,  that  they 
])rought  with  them  their  building  materials,  according 

*  WhiteheacV s  Aiiiboy,  p.  155  :  "  In  a  previous  letter,  dated  in  Janu- 
ary, Mr.  Alexander  says  that  '  plantations  north  of  the  Raritan  had  risen 
extravagantly  high,  even  to  three,  four,  and  five  pounds  per  acre,  and  for  a 
tract  of  five  hundred  acres,  unimproved  land,  belonging  to  Hunter,  south 
of  the  Raritan,  he  had  refused  twelve  hundred  pounds.'  " 


20  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

to  tlie  Dntcli  custom,  and  located  along  tlie  public  road, 
"^vliicli  tliey  called,  after  tlieir  former  home,  Albany 
street.  Among  these  settlers  we  find  the  names  of 
DIrck  Schuyler,  Hendrick  Van  Denrsen,  Dirck  Van 
Veghten,  Abraham  Schuyler,  John  Ten  Brock,  Nicliolas 
Van  Dyke,  and  Dirck  Van  Alen.  These  were  men  of 
considerable  property  and  enterprise,  and  their  arrival 
gave  a  fresh  impulse  to  trade.  The  city  was  now  a 
growing  town  of  much  activity.  The  j^rincipal  streets 
were  Burnet,  Water,  and  Albany,  with  perhaps  a  few 
buildings  on  Cliurch  street.  The  inhabitants  lived 
along  the  river  as  far  south  as  Sonman's  Hill,  extending 
north  for  about  one  mile,  or  a  short  distance  above  the 
ferry.  A  feu^  of  the  ancient  buildings  are  still  stand- 
ing, but  these  will  soon  give  place  to  more  modern 
structures,  and  every  I'elic  of  tlie  olden  time  will  have 
passed  away.  The  old  house  recently  standing  in  Bur- 
net street,  near  Lyle's  brook,  known  as  the.  proj^erty  of 
Dr.  Lewis  Dunham,  was  built  by  Hendrick  Van  Deur- 
sen,  one  of  the  Albany  settlers,  who  owned  several 
acres  of  land  in  the  vicinity."  JoTin  Van  Nuise,  of 
Flatlands,  L.  I.,f  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres 
of  Enoch  Freland,  April  28th,  1727,  having  its  fronton 
Neilson  street,  its  northern  line  along  Liberty  street,  its 
southern  alono;  New  street,  extending:  west  as  far  as  the 
Mile  Kun.  For  this  property,  in  connection  with  five 
acres  of  "  salt  meadow  at  the  mouth  of  South  river," 

*  He  was  offered  about  forty  acres  of  land  l3"ing  below  ^lorris  street,  and 
having  George  street  for  its  western,  and  the  rear  of  the  lots  on  Burnet 
street  for  its  eastern  boundary,  for  $25G.  Judge  Morris  owned  a  large  farm 
on  both  sides  of  Commercial  avenue.  Abeel  and  Hassert  owned  twenty 
or  thirty  acres  above  Van  Deursen's. 

t  The  ancestor  of  the  Van  Nuise  family  in  this  country  is  Aucke  Jansen 
Van  Nuyse,  who,  with  his  wife,  Magdalen  Pieterse,  and  children,  emigrated 
from  Holland  in  1G51,  and  settled  in  New-York.  His  place  of  birth  is 
supposed  to  have  been  Nuise  in  Groningen,  hence  the  surname  Tan  Nuise. 
He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  built  the  first  church  of  Midwout,  (now 
Flatbush,)  completed  in  IGGO. — Bergen  Family^  p.  157. 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  21 

lie  paid  tlie  sum  of  £800.'"''  In  tlie  summer  of  tliat 
year  lie  erected  a  large  farm-liouse  on  wliat  is  now 
Neilson  street,  betAveen  Scliureman  and  Liberty,  and 
surrounded  it  with  suitable  out-buildings.  Tliis  liouse 
was  used  as  the  headquarters  of  the  Hessian  commander 
during  the  occupation  of  this  tov/n  by  the  British 
army  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  is  still  remem.- 
bered  Ijy  nearly  every  middle-aged  man.  Some  of  our 
citizens  will  remember  the  Appleby  House,  a  stone  edi- 
iice  with  gable  roof  and  broad  hall,  on  the  corner  of 
Church  and  Peace  streets,  now  Van  Pelt's  drug-store ; 
the  Gibbs  House,  an  antique  stone  mansion  built  by 
Hendrick  Yoorliees,  standing  between  Burnet  street  and 
the  river,  near  Miller's  brook,  crossing  the  street  below 
Town  lane ;  the  French  property  in  George  street  in 
front  of  the  hotel  near  the  depot ;  and  the  large  aj^ple 
orchard  on  the  hill,  where  now  stand  the  buildings  of 
Rutgers  College.  Perhaps  a  few  may  remember  the 
old  barracks  standing  in  the  rear  of  our  present  par- 
sonao;e  on  Geor2:e  street,  which  were  burned  in  the 
year  I794.f 

We  shall  have  occasion  to  call  uj)  some  reminiscences 
of  the  past,  and  will  leave  this  rapid  sketch  of  the 
city,  while  we  proceed  in  our  narrative  of  the  church 
proper,  to  which  we  now  turn  our  attention. 

There  was  throughout  this  section,  as  in  all  new 
settlements,  great  destitution  of  religious  privileges. 
The  inhabitants,  in  writing  back  to  their  friends,  urged 


*  He  was  bounded  by  lands  owned  by  Gose  Vandenbergb,  Court  Voor- 
hees,  Roelef  Voorhees,  Laurence  Williamses,  Stephen  Philips,  and  Siba, 
Slart  and  Cornelius  Soleras. — Deed  in  fossession  of  Mrs.  James  Van  Nuise. 

t  The  well  in  Spring  alley  is  still  known  as  the  Barrack  Spring.  After 
the  destruction  of  tlie  building,  the  stones  were  employed  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  "  old  jail  "  in  Bayard  street ;  and  the  same  stones  now  form  a 
part  of  the  foundation  of  the  public  school  occupying  the  same  ground. — 
Br.  Davidson^ s  Historical  Sketch . 


22  HISTORICAL   DISCOUESE. 

tliem  to  enconraore  ministers  to  come  and  settle  amons: 
them,  holding  out  the  inducement  of  a  large  field  to 
occupy,  and  of  the  ability  of  the  people  to  give  them  a 
competent  support.  The  principal  town  in  the  county 
of  Middlesex  was  Woodbiidge,  which  obtained  a  char- 
ter June  1st,  1669,  and  deeds  of  land  were  granted  that 
and  the  following  years  to  about  forty  families  who 
had  emigrated  from  New-England.  They  were  mostly 
from  the  parisli  of  Eev.  John  Wood1>ridge,  of  New- 
bery,  Mass.,  after  whom  they  named  their  town.  Ef- 
forts were  made  immediately  to  settle  a  pastor,  but 
without  success  until  eleven  years  after,  when  Rev. 
John  Allen  settled  among  them  to  the  great  joy  of  the 
people.  This  was  the  first  religious  organization  and 
first  minister  in  our  county."' 

As  ministers  of  our  denomination  were  obtained 
only  from  Holland,  our  churches  experienced  even 
greater  difficulties  in  procuring  pastors  than  other  or- 
ganizations, and  only  succeeded  after  long  delays  and 
frequent  coiTes230iideuce  "with  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam. 
But  our  Dutch  ancestors  could  not  long  remain  without 
the  privileges  of  the  Church.  And  although  a  pastor 
was  not  obtained  until  many  years  afterward,  yet  these 
early  settlers  had  their  house  of  worship,  in  which  they 
statedly  met  to  hear  the  Scriptures  read  by  the  Voor- 
leezer,  and  where  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered 
perhaps  not  oftener  than  once  a  year. 

The  first  building  erected  within  the  bounds  of  our 
congregation  for  religious  purposes,  was  about  one  mile 
and  a  half  beyond  the  limits  of  the  present  corporation 
of  New-Brunswick,  on  the  lot  at  the  east  of  the  burying- 
ground,  near  the  residence  of  Abraham  J.Voorhees.  Our 

*  A  small  church  building  was  erected  in  1674,  the  first  in  our  county, 
thirty  feet  square. —  Whitehead's  Amloy,  p.  382. 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  23 

knowledge  of  tins,  organization  is  quite  limited,  and  de- 
riv^ed  mostly  from  the  traditions  in  the  neighborhood- 
There  are  no  records  of  Consistory  known  to  be  in  exist- 
ence, and  no  allusions  to  it  in  ancient  deeds  and  con- 
veyances. The  remnants  of  its  foundation  were  still 
remaining  Avithin  the  recollection  of  a  few  who  are  yet 
living,  and  it  is  described  as  a  building  quite  moderate 
in  its  dimensions,  exceedingly  plain  in  its  construction, 
and  never  completed.  The  date  of  its  organization  is 
not  known,  nor  has  the  name  of  the  minister  who  officia- 
ted on  the  occasion  been  transmitted  to  us.  There  is  in 
existence  a  subscription  paper,  recently  discovered,  bear- 
ing the  date  of  1703,  on  which  the  sum  of  £10  16s.  (3d. 
is  provided  to  defray  the  expenses  of  a  minister  of  the 
Dutch  Reformed  Church,  to  be  j^rocured  from  Holland.* 
This  church  may  have  existed  some  years  before  that 
period,  and  was  probably  the  first  religious  organization 
along  the  Raritan ;  for  the  great  highway  following  the 
Indian  path,  as  it  is  called  in  ancient  deeds,  from  Inians's 
Ferry  to  the  falls  of  the  Delaware,  was  the  first  point 
occupied  by  the  Dutch  settlers  in  this  section  of  the 
State.  The  families  represented  in  this  list  resided  on 
both  banks  of  the  Raritan,  from  near  Boundbrook  to 
New-Brunswick,  and  along  the  route  of  travel  to  Rocky 
Hill. 

This  congregation  was  known  as  the  church  of  Three 
Mile  Run.  Its  j)rominent  elders  seem  to  have  been 
Frederick  Van  Liew  and  Hendrick  Vroom.    The  build- 


'''  The  names  of  the  following  persons  are  attached  to  the  subscription  : 
Dollius  Hageman,  Teunis  Quick,  Hend.  Emens,  Thos.  Cort,  Jac.  Probasco, 
Neclas  WyckofF,  Mic.  L.  Moor,  John  Schedemeun,  Nee.  Van  Dyke,  John 
Van  Houten,  Wil.  Bennet,  Folkert  Van  Nostrand,  Jac.  Bennet,  Hend.  Fanger, 
xib.  Bennet,  Cor.  Peterson,  Philip  Folkerson, — avi.  L.  Draver,  George  Ander- 
son, Stobel  Probasco,  Isaac  Le  Priere,  Simon  Van  Wicklen,  Cobas  Benat, 
Garret  Cotman,  Lucas  Covert,  Brogun  Covert,  AVil.  Van  Duyn,  Dennis  Van 
Duyn,  John  Folkerson,  Jost  Banat. — Eon.  Ralph  Voorhces,  Mkldlebush. 


24  HISTORICAL  DISCOUESE. 

ing  stood  for  uj^ward  of  fifty  years,  aud  was  used  for 
neighborhood  services  long  after  the  project  of  making 
it  a  sej)arate  congregation  had  been  aljandoned.  This 
church  never  enjoyed  the  services  of  a  settled  pastor, 
although  two  eiiorts  are  known  to  have  been  made  to 
procure  one  from  Holland.  The  first  attempt  in  lYOS, 
already  referred  to ;  the  second  in  1729,  when  a  more 
extensive  plan  w^as  formed  to  revive  the  church  and 
build  up  a  second  congregation  within  our  bounds. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  tow^n  around  Inians's  Ferry  had 
grown  into  considerable  importance,  and,  as  it  was  the 
centre  of  trafiic  and  commerce  for  all  this  reo-ion  of 
country,  it  was  soon  felt  that  tliere  was  a  demand  for 
church  accommodations  in  this  place.  Accordingly, 
instead  of  completing  their  building  at  Three  Mile  Kun, 
with  great  2:)rudence  they  removed  to  tliis  locality,  and 
erected  an  edifice  of  larger  dimensions  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  this  increasing  population.  This  was  the  first 
religious  organization  in  the  town,  and  owes  its  existence 
to  the  enterprise  and  foresight  of  that  portion  of  the 
original  congregation  residing  at  this  point,  and  occupy- 
ing farms  along  the  Karitan  river.  The  building  was 
erected,  according  to  an  early  map  of  the  city,  "  previous 
to  the  year  171 7,  but  how  long  before  is  not  known." 
There  are  reasons  for  believino;  that  it  was  built  as 
early  as  the  year  1714,  at  which  time  the  place  was  be- 
ginning to  assume  some  importance,  and  gave  promise 
of  considerable  activity.  It  stood  on  the  corner  of  Bur- 
net and  Schureman,  then  called  Dutch  Church  street, 
and  at  that  date  it  was  called  the  cliurch  of  the  "  River 
and  Lawrence  Brook."  The  building  fronted  the  river, 
and  occupied  the  corner  lot,  subsequently  and  for  many 
years  in  the  possession  of  Dr.  William  Van  Deursen. 
The  structure  was  of  wood,  and,  like  most  of  the  early 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  25 

cliurclies,  its  breadtli  was  greater  tlian  its  depth.  Its 
dimensions,  according  to  a  plan  in  tlie  volume  of  records 
previously  referred  to,  was  fifty  feet  broad  and  forty  feet 
deep.  There  were  seven  pews  on  each  side  of  the  pul- 
pit, and  eight  along  the  middle  aisle.  The  total  number 
of  pews  in  the  building  was  fifty,  and  the  church  accom- 
modations was  three  hundred.  It  was  not  completed 
until  several  years  afterward,  and  stood  upward  of  fifty 
years,  giving  place  in  17G7  to  our  second  church  edifice, 
erected  on  the  site  of  the  one  we  now  occupy. 

The  project  of  forming  a  church  in  this  town  did  not 
proceed  without  some  opposition.  The  old  congrega- 
tion at  Three  Mile  Run  were  reluctant  to  part  with 
any  of  their  numbers,  and  those  families  living  still 
further  back  in  Franklin  township  urged  the  impor- 
tance of  all  continuing  in  one  organization.  Several 
meetings  of  the  church  seem  to  have  been  held,  and  the 
matter  discussed;  and  on  the  12th  day  of  April,  1717, 
"in  order  to  prevent  disturbance  and  contention,  and 
thereby  to  establish  peace  in  the  church,"  the  following 
plan  was  harmoniously  adopted:  "That  the  church 
built  near  Abraham  Bennet  shall  be  considered  as 
belonging  to  the  church  of  Lawrence  Brook  and  on 
the  River;  and  that  the  members  of  the  cono-reo-ation 
residino;  in  the  nei2:hborhood  of  Six  and  Ten  Mile  Run 
shall  also  build  a  church  for  themselves  at  either  of 
these  places,  or  at  some  point  intervening,  as  they  may 
agree."  It  was  also  determined  that  the  chm'ch  at  this 
place  and  at  Three  Mile  Run  should  each  have  a  con- 
sistory, who  should  cooperate  with  each  other;  and, 
"  notwithstanding  these  two  places  of  worshi]),  the  two 
congregations  shall  form  one  church;  and  in  matters 
of  great  importance  the  two  consistories  shall  meet  as 
one  body,  and  transact   such  business  as  may  come 


26  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

before  tliem  for  tlie  establisliment  of  the  Christian 
church."  The  arrau2:ement  was  not  intended  to  l)e 
permanent,  and  seems  to  have  been  entered  into  out  of 
respect  to  the  older  members  of  the  church,  who  could 
not  but  feel  an  attachment  to  the  first  house  of  worship 
and  the  original  organization.  In  a  very  short  time 
this  relation  probably  ceased,  and  all  the  services  were 
held  in  the  church  of  New^-Brunswick; 

In  tlie  old  book  of  records,  from  which  the  above 
facts  are  taken,  there  is  a  decision  that  Roelef  Seebring 
be  the  elder  for  the  new  congregation,  and  Hendrick 
Bries  and  Roelef  Lucas  the  deacons.  This  number 
was  soon  after  increased  to  three  elders  and  three 
deacons,  and  the  names  of  the  following  persons  are 
recorded  as  constituting  the  first  full  Board  of  Con- 
sistory :  Aart  Aartsen,  Izack  Van  Dyk,  Roelef  See- 
bring, elders ;  Johannes  Folkersen,  Hendrick  Bries,  and 
Roelef  Lucas,  (Van  Voorhees,)  deacons.  Thus  was 
organized  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  New-Bruns- 
wick, one  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago.''*  There  is  also 
a  decision  in  the  same  minutes  that  Pieter  Kinner  be 
aj^pointed  elder,  and  Elbert  Stoothof,  deacon,  for  that 
part  of  the  congregation  at  Six  Mile  Run.  We  have  a 
complete  list  of  the  original  membership  of  the  church, 
numbering  seventy-three  persons,  and  it  is  pleasant  to 
notice  how  many  of  their  descendants  are  still  found 
amono;  our  cono;re2;ation. 

Our  register  of  baptisms  begins  on  the  14th  of  Au- 
gust, when  three  children  were   baptized :   Elizabeth, 

*  As  this  church  is  a  continuation  of  the  Three  Mile  Run  congregation, 
which  had  aa  existence  as  early  as  1703,  there  is  a  propriety  in  the  state- 
ments made  in  public  documents,  that  we  trace  our  origin  as  a  religious  • 
society  to  near  the  commencement  of  the  last  century,  although  we  did  not 
have  a  distinct  organization  until  April  12th,  1717.  The  Consistorj'-  was 
sometimes  ordained  at  Three  Mile  Run;  at  least,  this  is  known  to  have  been 
the  case  in  one  or  two  instances. 


HISTOEICAL   DISCOURSE.  27 

daughter  of  Johannes  Stoothof;  Cornelius,  son  of  Mar- 
tin Salem ;  and  Jan,  son  of  Jacobus  Ouke.  During  the 
three  years  of  vacancy  twenty-nine  baptisms  are  re- 
corded, but  who  occupied  the  pulj^it  during  this  period 
we  have  no  information.  ^ 

We  know  that  Rev.  Bernardus  Freeman,  of  Lonsc 
Island,  took  a  deep  interest  in  this  chureh,  and  through 
him  early  efforts  were  made  to  obtain  a  minister  from 
Holland,  in  connection  with  three  other  churches  al- 
ready organized,  namely,  Raritan,'^  Six  Mile  Run,  and 
North-Branch,  now  Readington. 

As  the  result  of  this  combined  movement,  there  came 
to  this  country,  commissioned  by  the  Classis  of  Am- 
sterdam as  the  first  pastor  of  this  church,  January  1st, 
1720, 

EEV.    THEODOEUS    JACOBUS    FEELINGHUYSE]^. 

His  name  is  one  of  the  most  honorable  in  the  State 
of  New-Jersey,  and  the  influence  that  he  exerted 
among  the  early  churches  has  given  to  this  whole  re- 
gion the  name  of  the  "  Garden  of  the  Dutch  Church." 
The  field  of  his  j)astoral  charge  was  very  extensive, 
embracing  all  the  churches  in  Somerset  and  Middlesex 
counties.  Very  little  information  in  reference  to  this 
pioneer  of  the  gospel  ministry  in  this  section  has  been 
transmitted  to  us,  which  is  the  more  surprising  from 
the  fact  that  his  descendants  have  always  lived  in  this 
vicinity,  and  have  exerted  a  great  influence  in  the  poli- 
tical and  educational  interests  of  the  State.  Short 
biographical  sketches  have  been  published  at  different 
times,  giving  the  few  items  of  history  which  have  been 

*  The  church  of  Raritan  was  organized  March  9th,  1699.  Their  first 
house  of  worship  was  not  erected  until  about  the  year  1730.  The  Read- 
ington church  (then  called  North-Branch)  was  organized  in  1719. 


28  HISTORICAL  DISCOUESE. 

gatliered  from  the  personal  allusions  in  tlie  sermons 
whicli  he  printed  during  his  ministry,  and  from  the 
traditional  knowledo-e  of  the  inhal^itants  coverino;  his 
extensive  pastoi'al  charge.  To  Dr.  Abraham  Messeler 
and  R^v.  William  Demarest  the  church  is  indebted  for 
the  valuable  information  which  has  been  preserved  of 
this  most  remarkable  man. 

The  residence  of  Dominie  Frelingliuysen  was  within 
the  bounds  of  this  congregation,  his  grave  is  with  us 
to  this  day,  and  as  this  "was  the  centre  of  his  cliarge, 
liis  history  properly  belongs  to  the  sketch  we  are 
giving. 

He  was  born  in  the  year  1691,  at  Lingen,  in  East- 
Friesland,  now  a  province  in  the  kingdom  of  Hanover, 
and  was  educated  at  his  native  place  under  the  instruc- 
tion of  Rev.  Otto  Verbrugge,  Professor  of  Theology 
and  Oriental  Literature.  He  was  ordained  to  the  min- 
istry by  Rev.  Johannes  Bruuius  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
six,  and  for  about  two  years  was  the  pastor  of  a  church 
at  Embden  in  his  native  country.  While  thus  engaged 
he  received  the  call  from  the  churches  in  New-Jersey 
to  labor  in  this  destitute  field.  The  circumstance  of 
his  selection  by  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam  for  this  im- 
portant mission,  as  related  by  Dr.  Thomas  De  Witt,  in- 
dicates the  liand  of  God  in  the  gift  of  the  first  minister 
of  this  church.  A  pious  elder  entertained  a  young 
traveler,  on  his  way  through  the  town  to  Embden  to 
assume  the  charge  of  an  academy  in  that  place.  Dur- 
ing the  evening  he  was  so  well  pleased  with  the  spirit- 
uality of  his  conversation,  and  his  eminent  gifts, 
es23ecially  in  prayer  during  family  devotions,  that  he 
immediately  informed  liis  pastor,  Sicco  Tjadde,  that  he 
had  "  found  a  man  to  go  to  America."  In  answer  to 
this  call  he  made  liis  arrans-ements  to  emio-rate  to  this 

O  O 


niSTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  29 

country,  and  arrived  in  the  city  of  New- York  al^oiit  the 
1st  of  January,  1720,  and  on  the  17th  of  that  month  he 
occupied  the  j^ulpit  of  Dominie  Boel,  immediately  after 
which  he  came  to  New-Brunswick  and  commenced  his 
pastoral  work. 

He  brou2:ht  with  him  from  Holland,  accordino-  to 
the  custom  of  the  church,  a  school-master,  holding  also 
the  position  of  chorister  and  "  Voorleeser,"  Jacobus 
Schnreman  by  name,  the  ancestor  of  this  tamily  in  our 
State.  He  was  a  well-educated  gentleman,  and  noted 
for  his  piety.  He  had  the  gift  of  poetry,  and  wrote  seve- 
ral pieces  which  are  said  to  have  displayed  considerable 
genius  as  well  as  literary  taste  and  cultivation.  They 
were  spoken  of  about  fifty  years  ago  as  doing  "  lionor 
to  his  memory."  None  of  them  are  known  to  have 
been  translated  into  the  Enfrlish  lan2fuao;e,  and  with 
the  disuse  of  the  Dutch  they  have  probably  long  since 
perished.  There  is  a  tradition  that  he  used  this  gift  in 
a  very  effectual  ^vay  against  the  enemies  of  Mr.  Fre- 
linghuysen,  who  commenced  very  early  working  their 
mischievous  arts,  in  consequence  of  which  he  incurred 
their  great  displeasure.  He  was  a  warm  friend  of  the 
Dominie,  suj)porting  him  in  all  his  plans;  in  conse- 
quence of  which  there  sprang  up  between  them  an  inti- 
macy which  awakened  some  opposition  on  the  part  of  the 
people,  who  complained  of  the  influence  which  he  exert- 
ed over  the  minister.  They  were  both  unmarried,  and 
resided  in  the  family  of  Hendrik  Keyniersz,  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Three  Mile  Run.  He  had  been  promised 
in  his  call  five  acres  of  land,  which  was  increased  to 
fifty  acres  on  his  arrival,  with  the  use  of  a  parsonage. 
Quite  early  in  his  ministry  he  was  married  to  Eva  Ter- 
hune,  of  Long  Island,  after  which  he  resided  at  or  near 
the  residence  of  the  late  John  Brunson.     About  the 


so  niSTORIC^L   DISCOURSE. 

same  time  Scliureman  became  liis  brother-in-law  by 
marrying  tlie  sister  of  liis  v/ife,  Autje  Terliune,  and  re- 
sided near  the  farm  which  is  known  as  the  Schureman 
property. 

At  the  time  when  Mr.  Frelinghuysen  commenced  his 
ministry,  the  churches  under  his  care  were  in  a  most 
deplorable  state.  They  had  been  entirely  destitute  of 
the  stated  ministry  of  the  Gospel  since  the  first  settle- 
ment of  the  country ;  and  although  church  organiza- 
tions existed  and  houses  of  worship)  had  been  erected, 
yet,  as^  the  natural  result  of  the  absence  of  pastoral  su- 
pervision, there  must  have  been  a  great  departure  from 
serious  and  vital  piety.  Indeed,  this  was  the  charac- 
teristic of  the  times,  and  was  the  prevailing  mark 
among  all  the  churches.  When  we  consider  that,  for  a 
period  of  at  least  thirty  years,  the  early  settlers  in  this 
section  of  the  State  had  only  enjoyed  such  services  as 
could  be  rendered  by  neighboring  ministers,  we  are 
surprised  that  there  should  be  such  a  respect  for  the 
ordinances  of  God's  honse,  as  we  have  indicated  by  the 
reo'ular  admiuistratioii  of  the  sacraments,  and  the  in- 
crease  of  membershij^  to  the  church. 

The  physical  aspect  of  the  country  very  much  resem- 
bled the  morals  of  the  people.  It  was  wild  and  uncul- 
tivated. Dense  forests  surrounded  New-Brunswick ; 
the  streams  were  unbridged ;  the  settlements  Avere 
widely  scattered ;  the  roads,  with  tlie  exception  of  the 
main  thoroughfare  from  New- York  to  Philadelphia, 
were  little  more  than  paths  through  the  mlderness ; 
and  it  had  all  the  appearance  of  a  new  country. 

This  was  the  state  of  things  when  Dominie  Freling-, 
huysen  came  here  in  1720.  But  he  was  a  man  equal 
to  the  times,  of  great  energy  of  character,  of  large 
attainments  in  knowledge  and  grace,  and  with  a  certain 


HISTORICAL   DISCOUESE.  31 

fearlessness  of  spirit  that  enabled  liim  to  go  immedi- 
ately at  the  hearts  of  the  people.  From  the  sermons 
which  have  been  preserved,  we  gathei"  that  he  was  a 
warm,  earnest  preacher,  dwelling  principally  upon  the 
necessity  of  tlie  new  birth,  and  having  a  dreadful  an- 
tipathy to  all  manner  of  formalism.  He  preached  the 
doctrines  of  grace  with  so  much,  spirituality  and  direct- 
ness that  the  2:)eople,  who  had  never  had  their  hoj)es 
questioned,  began  almost  immediately  to  raise  against 
him  a  loud  opposition.  He  was  charged  by  his  enemies 
Avith  preaching  doctrines  contrary  to  the  standards  of 
the  Church,  and  subversive  to  the  whole  spirit  of  the 
Gospel.  When  he  insisted  on  the  necessity  of  experi- 
mental evidences  as  a  qualification  for  the  Lord's 
Supper,  he  is  re]3resented  as  introducing  customs  con- 
trary to  the  principles  of  the  Reformed  Church.  A 
very  elaborate  pamphlet  was  published  by  his  enemies 
in  the  year  1723,  setting  forth  their  grievances,  and 
making  an  appeal  to  public  opinion  against  the  course 
he  was  pursuing.  The  complaint  is  issued  under  the 
sanction  of  Simon  WyckofP,  a  deacon  of  the  church  of 
Six  Mile  Kun,  Peter  Dumont,  an  elder  at  Raritan,  and 
Hendrick  Vroom,  a  former  deacon  at  Three  Mile  Run. 
In  addition  to  these  names,  the  signatures  of  sixty-four 
heads  of  families  are  ap^^ended,  from  all  the  congrega- 
tions to  which  he  ministered,  with  the  exception  of  New- 
Brunswick.  The  controversy  seems  to  have  been  quite 
bitter,  and  was  continued  several  years.  Indeed,  it 
seems  to  have  disturbed  the  peace  of  the  cliurch  in  some 
portions  of  his  field  during  his  entire  ministry.  Mr. 
Frelinghuysen  states  in  one  of  his  sermons,  that  the 
violence  of  the  opposition  to  him  had  been  so  great  that 
on  one  occasion  the  door  of  the  cliurch  was  shut  against 
him,  and  he  was  not  permitted  to  administer  the  ordi- 


32  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

nances.  As  late  as  the  year  1729,  a  party  existed  of 
sufficient  strength  to  make  an  attempt  to  bring  over 
from  Holland  a  j)astor  more  after  their  own  mind.  A 
paj^er"  was  accordingly  circulated  with  an  idea  of 
gathering  together  all  the  raalcontentsf  in  the  old 
church  at  Three  Mile  Run,  which  is  represented  to  be 
in  a  somewhat  dilapidated  condition,  and,  if  the  enter- 
prise succeeded,  they  were  to  repair  the  old  edifice  or 
build  a  new  one  in  the  vicinity  of  John  Pittenger.  But 
the  plan  fjiiled,  and  the  scheme  was  abandoned.  The 
chiu'ch  at  New-Brunswick  did  not  join  in  this  contro- 
versy with  their  pastor,  but,  so  far  as  documentary  and 
traditional  evidence  goes,  zealously  supj^orted  him,  and 
the  result  was  witnessed  in  the  great  prosperity  whicli 
this  church  enjoyed. 

Dominie  Frelinghuysen  met  all  this  opposition  in  the 
sjDirit  of  a  true  gospel  minister.  He  continued  at  his 
post,  preaching,  visiting,  and  catechising,  laboring  for 
the  conversion  of  souls  and  the  edification  of  the  chtirch. 
"I  held  rather  die  a  thousand  deaths,"  he  says  in  one 
of  his  sermons,  "than  not  preach'  the  Gospel."  And 
his  ministry  was  eminently  successful.  Sound  in  his 
doctrinal  views,  searching  in  his  reproofs,  and  fervent 

*  The  subscribers  were:  A.  Booram,  Simon  Wyckoff,  Dennis  Van  Duj-n, 
Leonard  Smock,  Cor.  Peterson,  George  Anderson,  William  Van  Duj-n, 
Jac.  Boise,  Hen.  Smock,  Chris.  Probasco,  William  Kouenhoven,  Jac.  Ben- 
net,  Pet.  Bodine,  Gid.  Marlat,  William  Bennet,  Paul  Le  Boston,  Francis 
Harrison,  Ab.  Bennet,  Isaac  La  Queer,  Jac.  Bennet,  Nic.  Dailey,  Ad. 
Hardenbrook,  Luke  Covert,  and  Jac.  Probasco.  The  committee  to  procure 
a  minister  was  Hendrik  Vrooni  and  Frederick  Van  Liew.  This  subscrip- 
tion paper,  as  also  that  of  1703,  were  found  at  Mr.  Abraham  J.  Voorhees, 
at  Three  Mile  Run,  and  are  now  in  the  possession  of  Hon.  llalph  Voorhees  ; 
they  had  been  preserved  in  the  Van  Liew  fiimily,  and  are  all  that  we  have 
of  the  old  church. 

t  Rev.  Vicentius  Antonides,  from  Long  Island,  encouraged  the  disaf- 
fected party,  and  as  late  as  May  9th,  1734,  he  ordained  a  Consistory  for 
the  Tinee  Mile  Run  church,  composed  of  Simon  Wyckoff  and  Hendrick 
Vroom,  elders;  Simon  Van  Wicklen  and  Dennis  Van  Duyn,  deacons  ;  also 
for  North-Branch,  Daniel  Sebring  and  Peter  Kinney,  elders  ;  and  William 
Rosse  and  Francis  AValdron,  deacons. — Bccords  Harlingen,  Consistory. 


niSTORICAL   DISCOUESE.  33 

in  his  appeals,  lie  won  many  souls  to  Christ,  and  laid 
foundations  wliicli  have  not  yet  passed  away.  Through- 
out his  whole  field  of  labor,  he  enjoyed  as  the  fruit  of 
his  ministry  several  revivals  of  religion.  At  Raritan, 
he  was  eminently  successful  in  tlie  ingathering  of  the 
people  and  the  establishment  of  the  church.  Our  own 
records  are  incomplete,  but  the  evidence  of  our  liistory 
is,  that  he  was  instrumental  in  2:atheriuo'  too;ether  a 
large  congregation. 

About  six  years  after  Mr.  Frelinghuysen's  settlement 
in  JSTew-Brunswick,  namely,  in  1726,  Rev.  Gilbert  Ten- 
nent  arrived  in  this  place,  and  was  installed  the  first  pas- 
tor of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  remained  in  this 
city  about  seventeen  years,  and  was  regarded  as  a  man  of 
very  eminent  abilities,  especially  distinguished  for  his 
pulpit  talents.  The  first  church  edifice  of  this  denomi^ 
nation  was  erected  in  1727,  and  stood  on  the  same 
street  with  the  Dutch  church  below  Lyle's  brook,  on 
the  ground  now  occupied  by  houses  No.  142  and  144 
Burnet  street.  Mr.  Tennent's  residence  was  at  No.  168 
of  the  same  street,  since  taken  down,  in  which  his 
brother  William  had  the  remarkable  trance,  on  his 
recovery  from  which  it  ^vas  found  that  he  had  lost  all 
recollection  of  previous  events,  and  even  had  forgotten 
the  name  of  the  Bible. 

These  two  New-Brunswick  pastors  lived  on  terms  of 
great  friendship,  and  indeed  of  intimacy.  They  found 
in  each  other  congenial  dispositions ;  and,  judging  from 
their  published  discourses,  they  were  men  of  similar 
characteristics.  They  were  both  earnest  and  forcible  in 
delivery,  and  pungent  in  their  application  of  the  truth. 
In  a  letter  of  Mr.  Tennent  to  Rev.  Mr.  Prince,  a  histo- 
rian of  Boston,  in  1744,  one  year  after  he  had  left  this 
city,  he  gives  this  testimony :  "  The  labors  of  Rev.  Mr. 

3 


34  HISTOEICAL   DISCOUESE. 

Frelingliuysen,  a  Dutch  Calvinist  minister,  were  mucli 
blessed  to  tlie  peojole  of  Ne^v-Brunswic]s:  and  places 
adjacent,  especially  about  the  time  of  his  coming  among 
them,  which  was  about  twenty-four  years  ago.  When 
I  came  there,  which  was  about  seven  years  after,  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  much  of  the  fruits  of  his  minis- 
try; divers  of  his  hearers  with  whom  I  had  the  opj^or- 
tunity  of  conversing  aj)peared  to  be  converted  persons, 
by  their  soundness  in  principle.  Christian  experience, 
and  pious  practice ;  and  these  persons  declared  that  the 
ministrations  of  the  aforesaid  gentleman  were  the  means 
thereof.  This,  together  with  a  kind  letter  which  he 
sent  me,  respecting  the  dividing  the  word  aright,  and 
giving  to  every  man  his  portion  in  due  season,  through 
the  divine  blessing  excited  me  to  greater  earnestness  in 
ministerial  labors." 

The  eminent  evangelist,  George  Whitefield,  paid  fre- 
(pient  visits  to  this  city,  and  preached  to  large  congre- 
gations gathered  from  this  whole  section  of  country. 
He  frequently  speaks  of  New-Brunswick,  in  his  journal, 
and  of  the  pleasure  he  enjoyed  in  the  society  of  Mr. 
Frelinghuysen.  He  is  very  earnest  in  his  praise,  and 
represents  him  as  a  sound,  fearless,  and  ^highly  success- 
ful minister.  Mr.  Whitefield,  under  date  of  November 
20th,  1739,  writes  in  his  journal:  "Preached  about 
noon,  for  near  two  hours,  in  Mr.  Tennent's  meeting- 
house, to  a  large  assembly  gathered  from  all  parts."  On 
the  26th  of  April,  1740,  he  again  passed  through  New- 
Brunswick,  reaching  the  town  about  four  in  the  after- 
noon, "  and  preached  to  about  two  thousand,"  he  writes, 
"  in  the  evening."  "  The  next  day,"  he  adds,  "  preached 
morning  and  evening  to  near  seven  or  eight  thousand 
people ;  and  God's  j)ower  was  so  much  amongst  us  in 
the  afternoon  service,  that,  had  I  proceeded,  the  cries 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  85 

and  groans  of  the  people,  I  believe,  would  have  drov/ned 
my  voice."  It  was  upon  this  occasion,  according  to  the 
statement  of  Rev.  Dr.  Cannon,  received  from  persons 
who  were  present,  that  Mr.  Whitefield  preached  in  front 
of  tlie  Dutch  churcli  in  Burnet  street,  standing  on  a 
wagon,  and  the  immense  audience  were  spread  over  a 
meadow  sloping  down  to  the  river,  listening  to  the 
sermon. 

Dominie  Frelinghuysen  was  a  member  of  the  conven- 
tion which  met  in  the  city  of  New- York  in  April,  1738,. 
with  the  elder  from  this  church,  Henclrick  Fisher,  who 
formed  a  plan  to  establish  an  ecclesiastical  judicatory, 
with  more  enlarged  powers  than  had  been  enjoyed  by 
the  Reformed  Dutch  Churcli  in  this  country,  out  of 
which  grew  the  great  conflict  in  reference  to  the  sepa- 
ration from  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam.  Although  he 
did  not  live  to  take  a  very  active  part  in  this  contro- 
versy,-yet,  as  he  was  one  of  the  originators  of  the  move- 
ment, and  as  it  continued  to  agitate  the  church  for 
about  thirty  years,  even  threatening  its  very  existence, 
a  brief  sketch  of  tlie  two  jDiincij^les  in  conflict  will  here 
be  necessary  as  a  link  in  the  chain  of  history. 

Our  church,  in  this  coimtry,  was  not  an  independent 
organization,  but  merely  a  branch  of  the  Reformed 
Church  of  Holland,  and  subject  to  its  jurisdiction. 
Cases  of  discipline  had  to  be  referred  for  decision  to 
the  old  country.  Candidates  who  desired  to  pi'each. 
the  Gospel  wei'e  obliged  to  cross  the  ocean  in  order  to- 
obtain  ordination ;  and  only  such  ministers  as  had  been 
examined  and  commissioned  by  the  Classis  of  Amster- 
dam were  permitted  to  preach  in  our  pulpits.  The 
result  was  long  and  vexatious  delays  in  procuring  pas- 
tors, great  inconvenience  in  obtaining  the  decision  of 
the  supreme  judicatory,  and  an  outlay  of  time  and  ex- 


36  niSTOPJCAL   DISCOURSE, 

pense  which  greatly  retarded  the  growth  of  our  chiircL. 
In  this  year  (1738)  a  plan  was  matured  to  form  a 
"  (yoetus,"  or  an  assembly  of  ministers  and  elders,  who 
should  exercise  jurisdiction  over  the  churches  in  this 
countr}^,  subject  to  the  supervision  of  the  Synod  of 
North-Holland. 

This  was  the  entering-wedge  of  separation,  and  in  a 
short  time  grew  into  a  demand  for  an  independent 
Glassis,  with  all  the  powers  belonging  to  the  highest 
ecclesiastical  court.  But  tliis  innovation  was  most 
strenuously  resisted.  The  church  in  Europe  opj^osed 
the  measure  as  subversive  of  authority,  and  some  of  the 
older  ministers,  with  their  elders,  formed  an  assembly 
opposed  to  the  Coetu?5,"tb  which  they  gave  the  name  of 
"  Conferentie."  This  was  the  commencement  of  a  strife 
which  has  hardly  been  surpassed  in  the  history  of  eccle- 
siastical disputes,  and  was  not  finally  adjusted  until  Dr. 
Jolin  II.  Livingston  matured  a  plan  of  union  in  1772, 
which  met  the  cordial  approbation  of  all  who  sought 
the  peace  of  Zion. 

Mr.  Frelinghuysen  exerted  a  great  influence  in  con- 
nection with  this  most  important  measure.     Indeed,  he 
was  a  thorough  representative  of  the  Coetus  party, 
Avhile  the  early  controversies  through  which  he  had 
passed  prepared  him  to  be  a  leader  on  the  side  of  re- 
form.    He  was  evangelical  in  his  sentiments  and  pro- 
gressive in  his  spirit,  and  he  saw  that  the  interests  of 
the  churcli  demanded  an  independent  organization,  with 
all  the  facilities  of  school,  college,  and  seminary  to  ]^ro- 
.  vide  a  well-educated  ministry.     Although  he  did  not 
live  to  see  this  result,  yet  he  is  justly  honored  as  one 
of  the  originators  of  a  system  which  at  first  greatly 
agitated  but  finally  prevailed  to  the  establishment  and 
enlaro'ement  of  the  church.     There  were  a  few  in  this 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE,  87 

congregation  who  symj^atliized  with  tlie  Conferentie 
party,  but  they  never  attained  any  considerable 
strength,  though  in  other  parts  of  the  old  charge  of  Mr. 
Frelinghnysen  the  strife  was  carried  on  with"  a  violence 
which  it  is  almost  impossible  for  us  to  understand.'^'' 

The  Dutch  population  in  the  town  of  New-Bruns- 
wick received  quite  an  accession  between  the  years 
1730  and  1734,  by  the  emigration  of  several  families 
from  Albany,  previously  referred  to  in  our  narrative. 
Their  ancestors  had  removed  to  that  place  immediately 
from  Holland,  and  their  names  are  found  on  the  regis- 
ter of  church-members  as  early  as  1683.  They  are  uni- 
formly represented  to  have  been  an  intelligent  and 
pious  class  of  people,  who  added  very  greatly  to  the 
streno'th  of  the  church.  Families  also  continued  to  arrive 
from  Long  Island,  and  settled  on  the  farms  along  the 
Rai'itan,  both  above  and  below  New-Brunswick,  and 
on  both  sides  of  the  river.  From  these  causes  and  the 
increasing  jorosperity  of  the  congregation,  the  comple- 
tion and  enlaroremeiit  of  the  church  edifice  was  de- 
manded,  and  in  1735  we  find  that  the  object  was  ac- 
complished under  the  direction  of  a  committee  of 
which  Dirck  Schuyler  was  chairman.  The  amount 
expended   in   reseating   the    church  was  about  £200. 

*  Ilarlingen  especially  seems  to  have  been  an  important  point  in  the 
Coetus  and  Conferentie  difficulties.  The  original  house  of  worship  at  the 
cemetery  and  the  church  records  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Conferentie. 
The  Coetus  party,  therefore,  who  could  not  be  limited  and  restrained  by 
the  formalities  of  the  other,  erected  a  new  church  in  1749  near  the  present 
site,  and  kept  a  distinct  record  of  their  own.  Botli  records  have  come  down 
to  the  present  time.  On  May  9th,  1T34-,  Dominie  Antonides  met  some 
Conferentie  friends  at  the  house  of  RynerVeghte,  and  ordained  a  new  Con- 
sistory, in  opposition  to  Frelinghuystn's  Consistorj',  namely,  Koert  Voorhees 
and  Daniel  Polhemus,  elders.  This  new  Consistory  secured  possession  of 
the  church-books,  and  hence  Frelinghnysen  was  obliged  to  begin  a  new 
book  of  i-ecords  in  1737.  In  this  is  noted  the  arrival  of  his  son  John  in 
1750,  who  preached  his  first  sermon  in  that  locality,  August  19th  of  that 
year,  in  the  house  of  Simon  Van  Arsdalen.  His  first  sermon  was  preached 
in  the  church  December  2d. — Bev.  E.  T,  Corwin. 


38  IIISTOEICAL   DISCOUESE. 

At  this  date  the  pews  were  sold  under  an  article  of 
ao-reement  to  which  the  sio-natures  of  the  heads  of 
families  are  affixed.  We  have  a  plan  of  the  building 
thus  remodeled,  a  comi^lete  list  of  the  families  in  the 
congregation,*  and  the  original  disposition  of  the  pews, 

Amono;  the  names  I  find  recorded  that  of  James 
Ilude,'!'  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  New-Brunswick, 
and  held  in  very  high  esteem.  His  father  was  a  Scotch 
Presbyterian,  and  fled  from  the  religious  opj)ressions  of 
the  Old  World  to  enjoy  the  freedom  promised  in  the 
New.  Mr.  Hude  filled  all  the  civil  offices  in  the  city, 
and  spent  most  of  his  life  in  the  service  of  the  govern- 
ment. He  was  one  of  the  judges  of  the  Y^eas  for 
eleven  years,  a  member  of  assembly  in  1738,  one  of  the 
council  of  Governor  Morris,  and  for  several  terms 
mayor  of  the  city.  He  was  a  man  of  great  benevo- 
lence, and  on  his  death,  November  1st,  1762,  the  New- 
York  Mercm^y^  in  an  obituary  notice,  sj^eaks  of  him  as 
a  "  gentleman  of  great  probity,  justice,  aftability,  moral 
and  political  virtues."  His  residence  was  in  Albany 
street,  in  the  house  known  as  the  Bell  tavern,  the  origi- 
nal part  of  which  is  one  of  the  oldest  buildings  in  the 
town.  Though  he  does  not  seem  to  have  been  a  com- 
municant in  the  church,  yet  I" find  his  name  on  the  list 
of  families  in  the  cono-reo-ation,  and  his  children  were 
all  baptized  by  Mr.  Frelinghuysen,  and  appear  on  our 
register. 

On  the  same  list  I  find  also  the  name  of  Philij) 
French,  who  came  into  possession  of  Inians's  patent, 
and  was  a  man  of  great  liberality  and  distinction. 
One  of  the  streets  of  our  city  still  bears  his  name. 

*  For  a  list  of  the  heads  of  families  at  this  date,  see  Appendix  11. 

t  WhiteheacV s  Amhoy,  p.  374.  His  daughter  Catherine  married  Corne- 
lius Lowe,  and  a  daughter  of  theirs  married  a  son  of  Rev.  Mr.  Hardenbergh, 
the  Hon.  J.  R.  Hardenbergh. 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  39 

The  name  of  Jacob  Ouke  is  found  on  the  catalogue, 
one  of  the  original  members  of  the  congregation,  a 
prominent  elder  in  the  church ;  at  several  times  a 
mayor  of  the  city,  and  holding  an  office  which  had 
been  created  by  Mr.  Frelinghuysen  to  meet  the  grow- 
ino;  demands  of  his  larsre  charo;e.  In  addition  to  these 
names,  there  were  others  who  shone  with  equal  emi- 
nence, the  Schuylers,  the  Van  Deursens,  the  Van  Der- 
belts,  the  Van  Voorhees,  the  Schencks,  and  the  Van 
Harlingens.  The  list  embraces  the  names  of  about  one 
hundred  heads  of  families,  showing  that  at  this  date 
(1785)  there  was  here  a  large  congregation  built  up 
under  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Frelinghuysen. 

Perhaps  no  name  is  more  prominent  in  our  early 
records  than  that  of  the  distinguished  Elder  Minne 
Van  Voorhees,  one  of  the  ancestors  of  the  large  family 
of  this  name  in  this  section  of  the  State.  He  came  to 
this  vicinity  from  Long  Island  about  the  year  1715, 
and  two  years  after,  on  the  organization  of  this  church, 
we  find  his  name  on  our  list  of  communicants.  He  re- 
sided at  first  on  the  property  now  known  as  the  Col- 
lege farm,  and  was  the  proprietor  of  a  large  tract  of 
land  in  that  vicinity,  including  the  mills  below  the 
city ;  subsequently  he  removed  to  New-Brunswick,  and 
resided  here  until  his  death,  which  must  have  occurred 
about  the  year  1734.  He  was  a  man  of  great  promi- 
nence in  the  church,  elected  to  the  office  of  elder  when 
quite  a  young  man,  and  a  ruling  spirit  in  the  congrega- 
tion. In  the  controversies  which  Mr.  Frelinghuysen 
sustained  in  the  early  part  of  his  ministry,  he  found  in 
Minne  Van  Voorhees  a  staunch  and  intelligent  sup- 
l^orter.  From  the  fact  of  his  cooperation  with  his  pas- 
tor, the  inference  is  natural  that  he  was  of  a  kindred 
spirit.     Tradition  reports  him  to  have  been  very  gifted 


40  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

in  prayer  and  exliortation.  His  memory  was  so  reten- 
tive tliat  lie  was  able  to  repeat  nearly  the  entire  ser- 
mon after  hearing  it  preaclied.  When  Mr.  Frelinghuy- 
sen  was  exhausted  with  his  excessive  labors,  he  ^vould 
frequently  call  upon  Minne  to  take  the  evening  lecture 
in  one  of  the  neighborhoods,  and  he  would  conduct  the 
services  with  great  edification.  His  name  was  very 
precious  in  the  church  for  several  generations,  and  he 
has  left  behind  him  even  unto  this  day  a  savor  of  great 
piety.  His  descendants  were  connected  with  some  of 
the  most  distinguished  families  of  the  city,  the  Pools, 
Neilsons,  Abeels,  Bennets,  Schuylers,  Van  Deursens, 
and  Hasserts.''"' 

In  order  to  meet  the  growing  wants  of  his  extensive 
charge,  Mr.  Frelinghuysen  resorted  to  various  expedi- 
ents. The  plan  of  a  colleague  was  discussed  at  a  joint 
meeting  of  the  four  Consistories,  held  at  Raritan  in 
1737,  and  finally  adojDted.  An  address  is  sent  to  that 
Keverend  Father  in  God  Schuyhenburg  and  Jan  Stock- 
ers  to  send  over  from  Holland  a  young  man,  who  should 
act  as  an  assistant  to  the  minister.  -  The  call  is  prej)ared 
by  Mr.  Frelinghuysen,  and  in  his  characteristic  way  he 
asks  for  a  man  of  good  health,  who  will  l^e  able  to 
endure  a  large  amount  of  labor,  and  a  willing  worker  ; 
but  above  all,  for  one  who  shall  be  filled  AA'ith  the  love 
of  Christ  and  God's  kingdom.     He  is  to  j^reach  under 

*  The  ancestor  of  the  family  of  Voorhees  in  this  section  of  countrj'-  is 
Steven  Coerte,  or  Koers,  who  emigrated  from  Holland  in  1(3G0,  on  the  ship 
Bontekoe,  (Spotted  Cow,)  and  settled  in  Flatlands,  Long  Island.  Having 
no  surname,  they  subscribed  themselves  "  Van  Voorhees,"  or  "from  before 
Hees."  Stephen  Coerte  married  Willempie  Roelefse,  and  died  about  lG84r. 
His  son,  Lucas  Stevcnse,  married  on  Long  Island,  and  six  of  his  children 
emigrated  to  New-Brunswick  and  vicinity,  and  were  members  of  this  church 
at  its  organization.  Hans  (Jan)  Lucas  married  Neeltijo  Nevius;  Catryntjo 
Lucas  married  Roelof  Nevius ;  Roelof  Lucas  married  Helena  Stoothof ; 
Minne  Lucas  married  Antje  WyckofF;  Wilmetje  Lucas  married  Martin  Ne- 
vius ;  Albert  Lucas  married  Catryntje  Cornell. — See  Genealogy  of  Bergen 
Family,  p.  61. 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  4-1 

the  direction  of  the  senior  pastor,  catechise  the  chiklren 
and  youth,  and  perform  pastoral  visitation.  He  is 
promised  a  parsonage  with  fifty  acres  of  land,  a  horse 
with  necessary  accompaniments,  and  £80  a  year,  one 
half  of  which  shall  be  paid  as  soon  as  he  shall  be 
installed.  This  excellent  arrangement  did  not  succeed, 
the  right  kind  of  a  man  not  being  found  ready  to  emi- 
grate to  America. 

On  the  failure  of  this  effort  to  secure  an  assistant, 
Dorainie  Frelinghuysen  resorted  to  the  expedient  of 
appointing  "helpers,"  after  the  plan  of  the  apostles. 
(1  Cor.  12:28.)  Men  who  were  gifted  in  exhortation 
and  prayer,  and  who  had  commended  themselves  by 
theii'  godly  lives  to  the  people,  were  selected  under  the 
sanction  of  the  Consistory,  to  hold  neighborhood  ser- 
vices, to  visit  the  sick,  to  direct  the  inquiring,  and  to 
be  generally  useful  in  the  congregation.  Indeed,  this 
plan  was  matured  previous  to  sending  the  call  to  Hol- 
land; for  we  find  m  our  minutes  that,  in  1736,  a  joint 
meeting  of  the  four  Consistories  was  convened  for 
the  purpose  of  consulting  upon  the  subject,  and  that 
appointments  were  actually  made  of  such  extraordinary 
oflicers  in  the  church.  At  this  meetina^  the  following^ 
selection  was  made :  For  North-Branch,  Symon  Van 
Arsdalen ;  for  Raritan,  Hendrick  Bries  and  Teunis 
Post;  for  Six  Mile  Run,  Elbert  Stoothof;  and  for  New- 
Brunswick,  Hendrick  Fisher,  Roelef  Nevius,  and  Abra- 
ham Ouke.  The  tradition  is,  that  these  men  were  emi- 
nently useful ;  and  while  the  measure  was  a  novelty  in 
the  Dutch  Church,  and,  so  far  as  we  have  learned,  was 
confined  only  to  the  pastoral  charge  of  Mr.  Frelinghuy- 
sen, yet  it  was  eminently  successful,  and  tended  greatly 
to  the  prosperity  of  the  church.     These  men  held  the 


42  HISTOEICAL  DISCOURSE. 

office  during  life,  and  one  of  tliem,  as  we  shall  pre- 
sently see,  became  a  lay  preacher  and  catechist. 

On  examining  the  records  of  our  church,  I  find  that 
there  Avas  received  into  its  membership,  during  Mr. 
Freliughuysen's  ministiy,  about  sixty  persons.  Many 
names  are  undoubtedly  omitted  from  the  list,  as  some 
are  not  found  on  the  cataloo-ue  who  are  known  to  have 
been  in  communion  with  the  church.  The  laro-est 
number  received  in  any  one  year  was  in  1741,  when 
there  was  the  addition  of  twenty-two  persons,  a  most 
cheering  evidence  of  the  divine  favor,  and  a  great 
encoura2;ement  to  that  noble  minister  who  had  now 
triumphed  over  all  02:)position,  and  whose  work  was 
thus  crowned  with  God's  approbation.  Although  the 
whole  number  does  not  seem  to  be  large,  yet  it  is  a  fair 
representation  of  growth,  considering  the  sparseness  of 
the  population,  the  agitations  of  the  times,  and  the  fact 
that  he  received  into  the  communion  only  those  who 
gave  the  clearest  evidence  of  conversion. 

Concerning  the  events  that  transpired  during  the 
latter  part  of  Mr.  Freliughuysen's- life,  no  record  has 
been  preserved,  nor  is  the  time  of  his  death  or  the  place 
of  bis  burial  definitely  known.  In  the  summer  of  1744, 
he  bought  of  Daniel  Hendrickson,  of  this  city,  a  farm 
of  200  acres,  for  which  he  paid  £550.  This  property 
is  located  at  Three  Mile  Run,*  and  is  a  part  of  the  land 
occupied  by  the  late  John  Brunson.  Here  he  built  a 
spacious  house,  a  part  of  the  foundation  of  which  was 

*  It  is  described  as  being  bounded  on  the  south-east  by  the  land  of 
Daniel  Hendrickson,  north-east  by  the  "pretended  line  of  the  heirs  or 
assigns  of  Peter  Sonmans,"  north-west  by  David  Sequire,  south-west  and 
north-west  by  Cornelius  Bennet. —  Trenton  Deeds. 

He  lived  at  one  time  in  Burnet  street,  as  1  find  a  reference  to  his  "resi- 
dence" in  an  old  deed  in  m_y  possession,  but  the  precise  loc  ition  I  have  not 
ascertained.  He  spent  his  whole  ministerial  life  within  the  bounds  of  this 
congregation,  and  his  family  made  this  church  their  religious  home. 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  43 

used  in  tlie  construction  of  the  edifice  now  standing. 
At  this  place  he  probably  resided  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  ^vliich  must  have  occurred  about  the  commence- 
ment of  the  year  1748,  when  he  had  not  yet  reached 
his  fifty-seventh  year.  He  is  buried,  according  to  all 
the  evidence  we  can  gather,  in  the  old  yard  of  the  Six 
Mile  Run  church,  and  a  spot  is  still  pointed  out  as  his 
last  resting-place."*  His  monument  should  stand  in  the 
ground  adjoining  our  church,  and  his  name  should  be 
preserved  among  the  greatest  lights  of  our  Ziou.  The 
character  of  his  mind  is  sufficiently  indicated  by  his 
published  sermons  ;  his  fidelity,  by  the  fearlessness  with 
which  he  preached  the  Gospel  in  its  purity  and 
pungency;  his  success,  by  the  ingatherings  which  he 
enjoyed,  the  foundations  which  he  laid,  and  the  seed 
which  he  planted;  and  his  piety,  by  the  savor  which 
yet  breathes  from  his  memory. 

When  he  came  to  this  field,  he  found  it  sjDintually 
destitute  and  uncultivated.  A  church  had  here  grown 
up  in  this  new  settlement  without  a  pastor,  and,  bearing 
in  mind  the  ty2")e  of  the  religion  of  that  age,  we  are  not 
surprised  that  there  w^as  so  much  of  the  formal  element 
in  the  churches.  When  he  was  called  away,  he  left 
behind  him  a  strong  body  of  Christians,  who  had  been 
brought  into  the  church  under  a  searching  Gospel,  and 
who  gave  every  evidence  of  real  godliness.  That  he 
was  blessed  by  God  in  his  work  is   the    unqualified 

*  The  first  house  of  worship  of  the  Six  Mile  Run  church  was  built  in 
this  3'ard,  and  remains  of  t'no  foundation  were  visible  until  quite  i-ecently. 
The  second  building  was  erected  before  1766,  for  in  the  survey  of  the 
county  line,  made  at  that  date,  it  was  called  the  "new  church."  The  tra- 
dition is,  that  Mr.  Frelinghuysen's  grave  was  under  a  tree  near  the  centre 
of  the  ground.  The  aged  remember  that  their  parents  pointed  to  the  spot 
as  the  resting-place  of  a  "  great  man."  Is  it  not  a  striking  fact  that  the 
minister  who  first  broke  ground  for  the  Gospel  in  this  new  territory  lies  in 
an  unknown  grave?  Let  us  cherish  his  memory,  and  show  him  honor  by 
loving,  as  he  did,  the  pure  doctrine  of  the  Gospel. 


44  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

testimony  of  our  Listory ;  and  wlien  sucli  eminent  men 
as  Gilbert  Tenneut,  George  Wliiteliekl,  and  Jonathan 
Edwards  speak  of  him  as  one  of  the  great  lights  of  the 
American  church,  we  freely  accord  to  him  the  distin- 
guished position  which  he  occupies.  To  their  testi- 
mony I  may  add  that  of  Dr.  A.  Alexander,  of  Prince- 
ton, who  says:  "If  you  wish  to  find  a  community  cha- 
racterized by  an  intelligent  piety,  a  love  of  order,  and 
all  that  tends  to  make  society  what  it  should  be,  seek 
it  among  the  people  of  Somerset  and  Middlesex.  And 
their  present  character,"  he  adds,  "  is  owing  very  much, 
under  God,  to  the  faithful  preaching  of  the  Gospel 
under  old  Dominie  Frelinghuysen." 

The  name  of  his  wife  has  l3een  recently  recovered, 
but  no  traditions  are  preserved  in  respect  to  her  char- 
acter. But  the  piety  of  the  household  is  clearly  indi- 
cated by  the  character  of  her  children.  All  of  her  sons 
entered  the  ministry,  and  her  two  daughters  became 
the  wives  of  pastors  in  our  church.  We  attribute  this 
fact  mainly  to  the  piety  and  religious  instruction  of  the 
mother,  Eva  Terhune.  They  were  baptized  in  this 
church,  and  their  names  appear  upon  our  register. 
Theodore  was  settled  in  Albany,  from  1745  to  1759. 
He  is  represented  to  have  been  frank  and  230])ular  in 
his  manners,  earnest  and  eloquent  in  the  pulpit,  and 
blameless  in  his  life.  He  sailed  for  Holland  in  the 
year  1759,  with  the  expectation  of  returning  to  his 
field  of  labor.  The  date  and  circumstances  of  his  death 
are  not  known."^'*  His  memory  was  very  precious  in  the 
church  of  Albany,  meriting  the  tribute  paid  to  him  of 
"  the  apostolic  and  much  beloved  Frelinghuj^sen,"     His 

*  "A  letter  has  been  found,  MTitten  at  New-York  on  the  10th  of  October, 
1759,  which  establishes  the  fact  that  he  sailed  on  that  day,  and  that  gossip 
and  predictions  of  a  fatal  voyage  were  rife,  which  led  to  the  tradition  of  his 


HISTORICAL   DISCOUESE.  45 

second  son,  Jolin,  succeeded  liis  fatlier  at  Karitan  in 
August,  1750,  and  died  very  suddenly  Avliile  on  a  visit 
to  Long  Island,  attending  a  meeting  of  the  Coetus,  in 
1754.  Tlie  third  and  fourth  sons.  Jacobus  and  Fer- 
dinand, died  on  their  return  passage  from  Holland,  of 
the  small-pox,  in  1753,  and  were  buried  at  sea.  They 
were  promising  young  men,  and  had  both  received 
calls,  the  one  at  Marbletown,  the  other  at  Kinder- 
hook,  N.  Y.  The  fifth  son,  Hendricus,  pursued  his 
studies  in  this  country,  and  was  licensed  by  the  Coetus, 
and  in  1756  settled  over  the  church  of  Wawarsing,  in 
Ulster  county,  N.  Y. ;  but  in  a  short  time  he  also  died 
from  an  attack  of  sinall-pox,  and  was  buried  at  Napa- 
nock.  Thus  rapidly  did  these  young  ministers  close 
their  work,  just  at  a  time  when  the  whole  church  was 
needing  the  lal3ors  of  such  devoted  and  godly  men. 
One  of  his  daughters,  Anna,  was  married  to  Kev.  Wil- 
liam Jackson,  who  for  thirty  years  was  the  pastor  of 
the  church  in  Bergen ;  she  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two,  in  May,  1810.  And  Margaret  became  the  wife  of 
Rev.  Thomas  Komeyn,  whose  only  son,  Theodore  Fre- 
linghuysen  Romeyn,  was  the  pastor  of  Raritan  in  the 
same  charge  of  his  grandfather  and  uncle,  whose  short 
and  promising  ministry  of  only  eighteen  months  was 
brought  to  a  close  by  his  sudden  death  at  an  early  age, 
amid  the  lamentations  of  a  bereaved  people. 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  Frelinghuysen,  the  churches 
imder  his  charge  had  so  far  increased  in  streno-th  that 
tliey  immediately  resolved  to  settle  two  pastors.  Rari- 
tan,  North-Branch,  and  Millstone,  now  Harlingen,  settled 
Rev.  John  Frelinghuysen,  whose  short  ministry  of  only 

loss  at  sea,  and  which  is  nowhere  authenticated  except  by  the  garrulous 
Mrs.  Grant.  The  tradition  seems  to  have  grown  out  of  the  ominous  break- 
ing down  of  the  bench  in  the  pulpit  of  a  new  church  in  which  he  preached 
on  the  Sabbath  previous  to  his  departure." — MunseVs  Annals  of  Albany. 


46  HISTORICAL   DISCOUESE. 

four  years  was  eminently  successful.  While  he  was 
possessed  of  much  of  his  father's  bold,  evangelical  spirit, 
he  seems  to  have  been  of  a  more  pleasing  disposition, 
although  he  did  not  have  to  encounter  difficulties  which 
disturbed  the  early  ministry  of  his  honored  parent.  He 
was  much  interested  in  the  education  of  young  men  for 
the  ministry ;  and  there  is  still  standing  in  Somerville 
a  house  built  by  him  of  bricks  brought  from  Holland, 
where  Hardenbergh,  Jackson,  and  others  pursued  their 
theological  studies.  Although  i^arty  spirit  raged  very 
high  in  his  charge,  yet  his  ministry  was  remarkably 
blessed  by  the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit,  and  at  his 
death  there  was  great  lamentation.  The  churches  of 
New-Brunswick  and  Six  IMile  Eun,  very  conveniently 
located,  and  both  of  considerable  strength,  formed  an 
ecclesiastical  connection  for  the  settlement  of  a  minister 
who  should  devote  himself  entirely  to  this  field.  The 
choice  of  the  people  immediately  fell  with  great  una- 
nimity upon  a  young  man  who  had  just  comj^leted  his 
studies,  and  in  September,  1748,  there  was  called,  as  the 
second  j^astor  of  this  church, 

Kev.  JoHANisrES  Leydt. 

Our  knowledge  of  Mr.  Leydt  is  quite  limited,  though 
he  labored  in  this  field  for  thirty-five  years.  In  respect 
to  his  early  history,  I  have  only  been  able  to  learn  that 
he  was  a  Hollander  by  birth,  and  was  educated  at  one 
of  her  universities — which  one  is  not  certain — and  that 
he  came  to  this  country  with  an  elder  brother,  settling 
at  first  in  Dutchess  county,  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Fishkill.  He  was  born  in  the  year  1718.  The  time  of 
his  emioTation  to  America  is  not  known.  The  first 
notice  we  have  of  Mr.  Leydt  is  in  the  minutes  of  the 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  47 

Coetns  held  in  New- York  on  the  28th  of  April,  1748, 
in  these  words  :  "  The  student  Leydt,  according  to  aj)- 
pointment,  delivered  a  proposition  upon  2  Corinthians 
o  :  6-8,  and  gave  such  satisfaction  that  he  was  likewise 
received  with  Van  Der  Linde  to  be  examined  in  the 
morning,  after  reading  the  church  certificate,  from  which 
it  appeared  that  they  had  been  communicants  for  some 
years."  The  Elder  Hendrick  Fisher  was  a  member  of 
this  assembly,  and  presented  a  letter  from  the  Consis- 
tory of  New-Brunswick,  "urging  the  speedy  examination 
of  the  student,  in  order  that  their  congregation,  which 
was  vacant,  might  employ  him  as  a  candidate,  and,  if 
satisfied,  might  call  him." 

As  permission  had  been  previously  obtained  from  the 
Classis  of  Amsterdam,  the  examination  was  accordingly 
proceeded  with,  and,  proving  satisfactory,  these  two 
young  men  were  sent  forth  to  preach  the  Gospel.  Sej)- 
tember  27th,  1748,  a  formal  call  v/as  laid  before  the 
Coetus  by  the  Elder  Hendrick  Fisher;  and,  having 
passed  his  final  examination,  Mr.  Leydt  was  set  apart 
to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  constituted  the  pastor 
of  the  churches  of  New-Brunswick  and  Six  Mile  Run. 
There  was  great  joy  among  the  people  in  having  so 
soon  obtained  a  successor  to  the  excellent  Dominie 
Frelinghuysen,  and  who,  according  to  all  accoimts,  was 
influenced  by  a  similar  spirit  of  entire  consecration  to 
the  ministry.  I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  the 
place  of  his  church  relations,  nor  the  circumstances  of 
his  introduction  into  the  ministry.  It  is  said  that  he 
was  a  student  of  Mr.  Frelinghuysen,  and  was  well 
known  in  the  city. 

The  first  act  of  the  Consistories  was  to  provide  him 
a  home ;  accordingly,  they  purchased  a  parsonage  with 
fifty  acres  of  land.    This  property  was  located  at  Three 


48  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

Mile  Run,  and  is  known  as  the  Skillmau  farm,  now  in 
the  possession  of  Isaac  W.  Pumyea.  The  old  house  is 
still  standing,  a  short  distance  from  the  road,  in  which 
Mr.  Leydt  lived  during  his  entire  ministry  of  thirty-five 
years. 

Great  changes  had  taken  place  in  this  town  and  the 
surrounding  country  since  the  organization  of  this 
church.  The  land  had  heen  cleared  up  and  cultivated, 
more  substantial  buildings  erected,  farms  increased  in 
value,  and  the  morals  and  intelligence  of  the  community 
greatly  imj^roved.  In  1717,  the  Dutch  church  was  the 
onl}'  organization  in  the  town;  but  in  1748  there  was 
a  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  Kev.  Thomas  Arthur 
was  the  minister ;  and  the  Ejiiscopalian  church,  erected 
in  1743,  on  a  lot  given  by  Philip  French,  of  wliicli  Rev. 
Mr.  Wood  was  tlie  missionary ;  and  all  of  these  congre- 
gations are  represented  to  have  lived  in  a  spirit  of  great 
harmony  and  Christian  cooperation. 

A  very  interesting  description  of  our  town  at  this 
date,  1748,  the  year  in  which  Mr.  Leydt  commenced  his 
ministry,  is  given  in  the  account  of  a  traveler  by  the 
name  of  Peter  Kalm,  a  professor  in  the  University  of 
Abo  in  Swedish  Finland,  who  visited  North-America 
as  a  naturalist,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Swedish  Royal 
Academy  of  Science.  "  About  noon,"  he  writes,  "  we 
arrived  in  New-Brunswick,  a  pretty  little  town  in  a 
valley  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  Raritan ;  on  ac- 
count of  its  low  situation  it  can  not  be  seen  coming 
from  Pennsylvania,  before  coming  to  the  top  of  the 
hill  which  is  close  up  to  it.  The  town  extends  north 
and  south  along  the  river.  The  town-house  makes  a 
pretty  good  appearance.  The  town  has  only  one  street 
lengthwise,  and  at  its  northern  extremity  there  is  a 
street  across ;  both  of  these  are  of  considerable  length. 


HISTORICAL   DISCOUESE.  49 

One  of  the  streets  is  almost  entirely  inhabited  by 
Dutchmen  who  came  hither  from  All)any,  and  for  that 
reason  they  call  it  Albany  street.  On  the  road  from 
Trenton  to  New-Brunswick,  I  never  saw  any  place  in 
America,  the  towns  excepted,  so  well  peopled,"'"* 

Very  shortly  after  his  settlement,  Mr.  Leydt  interested 
himself  in  procuring  a  charter  from  the  royal  governor 
for  the  churches  originally  embraced  in  the  charge  of 
Mr.  Frelinghuysen.  This  instrument  was  obtained  im- 
der  the  administration  of  Jonathan  Belcher,  Esq.,  Gov- 
ernor-in-Chief  of  the  Province  of  New-Jerse}^,  and  was 
executed  on  the  7th  day  of  June,  and  the  twenty- 
sixth  year  of  the  reign  of  King  George  II.  (1758.) 
The  trustees  under  the  charter  were  the  two  ministers, 
Rev.  Johannes  Leydt  and  Rev.  John  Frelinghuysen, 
with  the  several  members  of  the  Consistories  of  the  five 
churches.  The  first  meeting  of  the  new  corporation 
was  held  at  Raritan,  October  31st,  1753,  when  Hen- 
drick  Fisher,  one  of  the  elders  of  this  church,  was 
chosen  president  of  the  board,  and  arrangements  made 
to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  charter.f 

The  increase  of  population  in  the  town,  and  the 
popularity  of  the  minister,  soon  called  for  more  en- 
laro-ed  church  accommodations.  The  old  buildino;  in 
Burnet  street  was  full,  and  as  early  as  1754  the  -plan 
was  agitated  for  the  erection  of  a  new  and  more  com- 
modious church  edifice  in  a  more  central  location.     An 


*  In  some  of  his  statements  Mr.  Kalra  is  not  accurate.  In  reference  to 
his  "two  German  churches,  one  of  stone,  the  other  of  wood,"  it  is  certainly 
a  mistake.  The  Dutch  congregation  had  but  one  building,  a  structure  of 
wood,  in  Burnet  street.  His  error  is  equally  apparent  in  the  remark  that 
"  the  Presbyterians  were  building  a  church  of  stone."  They  never  had  a 
stone  edifice,  and  there  was  no  church  building  going  on  in  the  town  at 
this  date.  The  statements  of  travelers  in  reference  to  local  matters,  unac- 
quainted with  the  language  of  the  people,  and  merely  passing  through  a 
place,  are  to  be  taken  with  some  degree  of  allowance. 

t  See  Appendix  III. 

4 


50  HISTORICAL   DISCOUESE. 

article  of  agreement  was  entered  into  at  tliis  time  for 
the  piircliase  of  a  lot  on  which,  to  erect  a  new  l)nil(ling. 
But  the  subject  was  postponed  from  time  to  time,  in 
consequence  of  a  difference  of  opinion  in  the  congrega- 
tion as  to  the  proper  location.  One  party  insisted  on 
remaining:  in  Burnet  street  and  enlars-ins:  the  old  edi- 
iice,  and  the  other  desired  a  removal  into  that  part  of 
the  city  which  had  the  prospect  of  growth.  The  mat- 
ter was  finally  adjusted  by  the  gift  of  the  plot  of 
ground  on  which  our  present  building  is  erected,  by 
Philip  French,  Esq.,  one  of  the  members  of  the  congre- 
gation. The  deed  of  conveyance  is  dated  September 
12th,  1765.  The  Consistory  was  tlien  composed  of 
Hendrick  Fisher,  Ferdinand  Schureman,  and  Derick 
Van  Veghten,  elders ;  Cornelius  Seebring,  Ernestus 
Van  Harlingen,  and  Jacobus  Van  Nuise,  deacons.  A 
building  committee  was  immediately  apjiointed,  of 
which  John  Schureman,  son  of  the  school-master,  was 
the  chairman,  and  arrangements  made  for  the  erection 
of  the  second  church  edifice  of  our  denomination  in 
the  town. 

The  new  building  was  completed  and  occupied  by 
the  congregation  in  the  autumn  of  1767,  one  hundred 
years  ago,  when  the  old  church  in  Burnet  street  ^vas 
taken  down,  and  the  lot  sold  to  John  Schureman.  The 
ground  plan  of  this  building  is  given  in  our  records, 
the  sale  of  pews,  and  a  complete  list  of  the  congrega- 
tion at  this  date.  The  building  was  of  stone,  nearly 
square,  and  would  seat  comfortably  four  hundred  per- 
sons. The  cost  of  construction  was  £1097  13s.  7d. 
It  had  a  front  entrance  on  Queen,  now  Neilson  street, 
and  a  side-door  on  Prince,  now  Bayard  street.  At  the 
south  side  was  a  long  pew  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  public  officers  of  the  city,  and  on  the  north  similar 


HISTORICAL   DISCOUESE.  51 

pews  running  parallel  witli  the  walls,  whidi,  it  is  said, 
were  mucli  sought  after,  "as  one  eye  could  be  directed 
toward  the  minister,  and  the  other  to  any  thing  that 
might  require  attention  in  the  other  part  of  the  house." 
Far  off  and  up  in  a  circular  pulpit,  supported  l3y  a 
pedestal,  was  the  minister,  beneath  the  old  time-lionored 
sounding-l:)oard.  Two  pillars  support  the  roof  from 
the  centre,  which  went  up  on  "four  sides,  ending  in  a 
small  steeple.  A  l)eir"*  was  put  up  about  the  year 
1775,  and  the  sexton,  in  ringing,  stood  in  the  middle 
aisle,  winding  the  rope  during  service  around  one  of 
the  pillars.  The  church  was  never  desecrated  with 
stoves,  but  in  the  midst  of  winter  the  good  Dutchmen 
kept  up  what  heat  they  could  by  an  occasional  stamp- 
on  the  floor,  and  tradition  says  the  Dominie  would  keep 
warm  by  an  extra  amount  of  gesture. 

The  city  presented  a  far  different  appearance  from  its 
j)resent  aspect.  The  streets  were  un2:)aved;  a  swamp 
extended  from  Church  to  New  street,  affording  a  fine 
skating-pond  for  the  boys  in  winter ;  there  were  a  few 
buildings  to  the  right  of  the  edifice,  and  only  an  occa- 
sional house  between  this  and  Albany  street.  On  the 
hill  occupying  the  ground  in  the  rear  of  our  parsonage 
stood  the  stone  barracks,  a  commodious  building  one 
hundred  feet  in  length  and  sixty  in  depth,  erected  in  the 
year  1758;  and  the  farm  of  Jacobus  Van  Nuise  covered 
all  that  ground  now  occupied  by  Schureman,  Liberty, 
and  New  streets,  extending  west  as  far  as  the  residence 
of  Richard  McDonald.  This  buildins:  stood  for  about 
forty-five  years ;  and,  unornamented  as  it  was,  it  had 
gathered  around  it  unusual  interest.    Here  your  fathers 

*  I  have  been  informed  that  the  bell  was  taken  down  at  some  period  dur- 
ing the  war,  and  buried  in  the  orchard  where  now  stands  Rutgers  College^ 
and  restored  to  its  place  after  the  enemy  left  the  city. 


52  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

worshijied  ;  and  from  tlie  old  pulpit  was  preached  the 
true  Gospel  of  Clirist.  A  few  are  left  wlio  remember 
the  edifice  well ;  hut  fifty-six  years  have  passed  since 
this  venerahle  structure  was  taken  down,  and  soon  all 
recollection  of  it  will  have  passed  away. 

We  can  picture  to  our  minds  the  Sabbath  morning, 
one  hundred  years  ago,  when. the  church  was  completed, 
and  the  building  was  set  apart  for  the  worship  of  God. 
In  the  absence  of  the  precise  date,  we  can  imagine  that 
this  most  beautiful  season  of  the  year,  and  this  very 
month  of  Octol^er,  was  selected  for  the  service. .  The 
day  opens  with  a  l)right  sunshine,  and  the  patriarchal 
head  of  the  house  unclasps  the  huge,  old-fashioned  Bible, 
and  reads  a  chapter  for  the  family  devotions,  comment- 
ing on  the  verses  witli  an  ability  which  shows  his 
knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  and  his  strong  belief  in 
the  theology  of  the  Keformation.  The  day  is  to  be  an 
important  one  in  the  churcli  of  New-Brunswick,  and 
earlier  than  usual  the  whole  surrounding  population 
are  on  their  way  to  the  house  of  God.  All  the  roads 
leading  into  the  city  are  lined  with  travelers,  some  on 
horseback,  many  on  foot,  and  a  few  enjoying  the  luxury 
of  a  wa2:on-ride  over  the  rouo'li  and  windins;  roads. 

There  is  no  service  that  day  at  Six  Mile  Eun,  and 
the  whole  congregation  are  2:)resent.  Every  family  in 
the  surrounding  country  is  represented  in  the  throng. 
The  men  are  attired  in  their  best  Sunday  garments, 
low-crowned  hats  with  very  broad  brims,  coats  of  large 
dimensions,  with  plated  buttons,  polished  Iji'ightly  for 
the  occasion,  ruffled  bosoms  and  wristbands,  with  silver 
sleeve-buttons,  and  the  more  aged  in  small  clothes,  with 
knee-buckles,  and  a  linen  neck-tie  of  perfect  whiteness. 
The  women  were  modestly  and  appropriately  attired ; 
the  dress  was  of  homespun  material  of  fine  texture,  ex- 


HISTOEICAL   DISCOURSE.  53 

tremely  short-waisted,  but  not  entirely  devoid  of  orna- 
ment ;  their  l)onnets  were  large  and  expansive,  with, 
crowns  of  suincient  size  to  inclose  the  most  aspiring 
head-dress;  a  neat  linen  collar,  with  knit  gloves  of  their 
own  manufacture,  and  a  stout  pair  of  shoes  completed 
the  toilet. 

Thus  attired,  the  people  gather  into  the  sanctuary. 
The  building  is  plain,  and  for  th^  times  ample  in  its 
proportions.  It  is  of  rough  stone,  brought  all  the  way 
from  Hurl-Gate  in  sloops,  up  the  Raritan,  and  they  are 
still  j)i'eserved  in  the  walls  of  this  edifice.  The  pews 
liave  been  sold  the  j)receding  week ;  and,  since  there  is 
no  bell  in  the  tower,  the  signal  of  a  horn  announces  the 
hour  of  worship,  while  the  services  are  regulated  by  an 
hour-glass.  The  voorlezer  takes  his  seat  in  front  of  the 
pulpit,  and,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  day,  com- 
mences the  exercises  by  reading  the  ten  commandments 
and  selections  from  the  Scriptures,  after  Avhicli  the 
psalm  is  read,  and  for  the  first  time  those  walls  resound 
with  the  praise  of  God.  During  the  singing  the  min- 
ister enters  the  church,  bowing  to  the  right  and  left  as 
he  passes  up  the  crowded  aisle,  pausing  for  a  few  mo- 
ments with  covered  face  in  silent  devotion  before  enter- 
ing the  sacred  desk.  He  is  now  in  his  full  prime,  having 
served  the  congregation  for  about  nineteen  years.  The 
hour-glass  stands  at  the  right  of  the  minister,  by  the 
side  of  the  Bible.  While  the  sermon  is  in  progress,  the 
sand  has  run  out;  it  is  then  turned,  and  the  congrega- 
tion know  that  a  half-hour  of  the  discourse  is  yet  to 
come.  But  the  peoj^le  listen  with  grave  attention,  and 
are  full  of  reverence.  We  have  the  names  of  all  the 
heads  of  families.  We  may  suppose  that  John  Schure- 
man,  the  patriot  and  scholar,  was  present  that  day,  and 
had  a  glad  time  in  seeing  the  building  for  which  he  had 


54  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

toiled  completed ;  as  also  Philip  Frencli,  who  gave  the 
lot,  and  Christian  Van  Doren,  Hendrick  Fisher,  Derick 
Van  Veghten,  Abraham  Oakey,  and  Jeremiah  Van  Der- 
bilt,  former  elders  of  the  church.  Hendrick  Van  Deur- 
sen,  with  his  son  "William,  were  in  the  assembly;  so 
also  were  Jacobus  and  James  Van  Nuise,  both  young 
men.  Then  there  were  John  and  Matthew  Sleight,  and 
a  long  list  of  Voorhees,  Koelef,  Albert,  Lucas,  John, 
James,  Garret,  Martinus,  Matthew,  and  Abraham  ;  there 
were  Ed^vard  Van  Harlingen,  John  Ryder,  Charles  Bor- 
ram,  Peter  Vredenberg,  Matthew  Egerton.  Abraham 
Schuyler  was  also  there,  giving  promise  of  the  useful 
man  ^vhicli  he  afterward  became.  So  also  the  Van 
Liews,  Dennice,  John,  Hendrick,  and  Frederick;  the 
Stoothoffs,  Whilhelmus,  Johannes,  John,  and  Cornelius; 
the  Suydams,  Charles  and  Cornelius;  the  Outgelts, 
Fredrick  and  Johannes;  the  Waldrous,  Leffert  and 
John.  And,  while  we  have  the  familiar  names  of 
Nevius,  Spader,  Garretson,  Van  Sickle,  Provost,  Thomp- 
son, De  Hart,  Wyckoif,  Van  Pelt,  and  Cortleyou,  all 
represented  among  us  to-day,  we  have  also  some  ^vhich 
are  no  longer  known  in  our  city,  as  Hyse,  Plortwick, 
Standley,  Wilton,  Probasco,  Hance,  Kin,  and  Hassert. 
All  these,  with  others,  listened  to  the  word  of  God  that 
day.  The  morning  service  was  followed  by  an  inter- 
mission of  half  an  hour,  and  then  they  all  returned  to 
hear  another  seriuon.  Thus  the  Sabbath  day  passed, 
closing  with  the  family  recitation  in  tlie  catechism,  and 
evening  worship. 

The  services  in  this  church  were  held  on  each  alter- 
nate Sabbath,  and  there  is  the  evidence  of  great  i^unc- 
tuality  in  the  administration  of  the  ordinances.  Mr. 
Leydt  was  a  very  laborious  minister;  and  while  he  does 
not  seem  to  have  left  any  distinct  impressions  of  his 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  55 

pnlpit  talents,  he  is  represented  to  have  been  very 
faithful  as  a  pastor.  He  took  a  very  active  part  in  all 
the  public  enterprises  of  the  day.  In  connection  with 
the  organization  of  new  churches,  the  calling  and  in- 
stallation of  pastors,  and  the  healing  of  difficulties  in 
congregations,  we  will  find  the  name  of  Dominie  Leydt. 
He  was  a  regular  member  of  the  Coetus,  a  constant  at- 
tendant on  theu'  meetings,  and,  from  the  frequent  refer- 
ences to  his  name,  he  seems  to  have  been  a  prominent 
and  influential  member.  He  took  a  warm  interest  in 
this  long  controversy,  and  is  placed  among  the  number 
of  those  who  were  chiefly  instrumental  in  procuring 
the  independence  of  the  church  in  this  country.  He 
wrote  several  very  excellent  pamphlets  on  the  subject, 
which  were  answered  by  the  opponents  of  the  measure, 
and  are  referred  to  in  the  minutes  of  that  body.  The 
Classis  of  Amsterdam,  in  their  correspondence  with  tlie 
churches  in  this  country,  speak  of  his  writings  as  excel- 
lent in  spirit  and  argument."^  At  one  time  he  repre- 
sented the  Coetus  to  the  Conferentie  party,  and  was 
chairman  of  the  committee.  In  the  minutes  of  the 
latter  body  he  is  represented  as  being  very  pointed  in 
his  remarks,  and  as  saying  some  things  so  piercing  that 
they  could  hardly  keep  silent.  On  the  erection  of  the 
General  Synod,  he  was  associated  with  Dr.  Livingston 
in  conducting  the  principal  part  of  their  business,  and 
at  their  annual  meeting  at  New-Paltz,  in  17V8,  he  was 
chosen  president.f 

*  T  have  this  fact  from  Dr.  Thomas  De  Witt,  but  have  not  seen  the  minute 
itself  This  valuable  correspondence  would  have  been  of  service,  no  doubt, 
in  compiling  this  history.  There  is  an  admirable  paper  in  the  collection  by 
Dr.  Hardenber2,h,  which  presents  the  points  of  controversy  in  a  strong  light. 
I  regret  very  much  that  I  could  not  obtain  access  to  the  book  of  minutes 
copied  from  the  oi'iginal  under  the  direction  of  Synod.  We  are  pleased  to 
learn  that  all  the  documents  are  soon  to  be  given  to  the  public. 

t  See  Minutes  of  S^nod,  Vol.  I. — Gun's  Life  of  Livingston^  p.  143. 


6  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

Mr.  Leyclt  was  one  of  the  prominent  movers  in  the 
establishment  of  Queen's,  now  Rutgers  College.  This 
was  the  favorite  object  of  the  Coetus,  or  progressive 
and  evangelical  party  in  the  church.  With  them  an 
educated  ministry  was  the  great  want  of  our  American 
Zion ;  as  Mr.  Leydt  expresses  it  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Liv- 
ingston, "  I  humbly  conceive  that,  without  a  regular 
course  of  collegiate  studies,  we  shall  never  make  any 
respectable  figure  in  church  or  state."  The  Charter  of 
this  institution  was  procured  of  Governor  Franklin, 
March  20th,  1770.  In  the  following  year  the  long  -con- 
troversy in  which  the  church  had  been  engaged  was 
finally  adjusted  by  adopting  a  plan  of  union,  drawn  up 
by  Dr.  Livingston,  which  received  the  approval  of  the 
church  in  Holland,  and  which  dated  our  separate  eccle- 
siastical organization.  The  consent  was  based  upon  a 
condition  that  the  Dutch  Church  in  America  should 
make  provision  in  her  constitution  to  provide  herself 
with  an  educated  ministry.  The  founding  of  our  col- 
lege was  an  event  that  gave  great  joy  to  our  church. 
Mr.  Leydt  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  petition  to 
Governor  Franklin  for  the  charter,  and  was  named  as  a 
trustee  ;  as  such  he  attended  a  meeting  of  the  board  at 
Hackensack,  when  the  location  of  the  college  was  defi- 
nitely fixed  at  New-Brunswick.  In  the  letter  to  Dr. 
Livingston,  from  which  I  have  quoted  a  sentence,  he  re- 
joices over  the  event  in  this  language  :  "  The  great  and 
glorious  promise  consequent  upon  the  noble  confession 
of  Nathanael,  '  Tliou  slialt  see  greater  tilings  than  tliese^ 
frequently  exercising  my  mind  upon  fiivorable  turns  in 
Divine  Providence,  with  acknowledgment  and  expecta- 
tions, hath  with  some  energy  of  late  reverted  to  my 
mind  with  respect  to  our  present  situation ;  as  a  door 
seems  to  be  opening,  not  only  for  a  desirable  union 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  57 

and  fixed  order,  but  also  increase  of  knowledge  and  ef- 
fusion of  the  Holy  Spirit."  In  tlie  same  letter  he  ap- 
prises Dr.  Livingston  of  a  motion  in  the  board  of 
trustees  to  elect  him  president  of  the  college,  and  of 
certain  other  plans  to  render  the  institution  ^^rosperous 
and  efficient.*"' 

We  are  brousrht  in  the  course  of  our  narrative  to  the 
commencement  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  a  most  inte- 
resting period  in  the  history  of  oui'  country  and  our 
church.  During  all  these  exciting  years  of  conflict  Mr. 
Leydt  was  the  pastor  of  this  church,  and  there  are  in- 
dications of  great  interruption  in  the  growth  of  the 
congregation.  There  had  been  a  steady  increase  in  the 
number  of  membershij^  up  to  the  year  1773,  but  dur- 
ing the  next  six  years  there  are  no  records  of  additions 
to  the  church.  The  minds  of  the  people  Avere  agitated 
with  the  din  of  preparation,  the  city  during  a  portion 
of  this  time  was  in  the  possession  of  the  enemy,  and 
for  more  than  a  year  the  services  in  the  church  build- 
ing were  entirely  suspended. 

Mr.  Leydt  was  a  firm  patriot,  and  took  a  warm  inte- 
rest in  the  conflict.  He  preached  upon  the  topics  of 
the  day  in  such  a  manner  as  to  rouse  the  j^atriotisra  of 
the  people  into  a  j^itch  of  enthusiasm ;  he  prayed  for 
the  success  of  the  American  cause,  and  counseled  the 
young  men  to  join  the  army  of  freedom. 

New-Brunswick  suffered  during  the  war  to  an  extent 
to  which  few  towns  were  subjected.  It  lay  in  the  path 
of  the  two  armies  crossing  and  recrossing  the  State,  and 
in  the  varying  fortunes  of  war  was  at  one  time  in  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  and  at  another  under  the  protec- 

*Mr.  Leydt  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Princeton  Col- 
lege, and  served  in  that  position  for  six  years,  under  the  presidency  of  Dr. 
Samuel  Finley. 


68  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

tion  of  friends.  During  tlie  winter  of  1776-77,  the 
city  was  in  the  possession  of  the  British  army,  who  oc- 
cupied it  by  a  very  large  force.  Lord  Howe,  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, had  his  head-quarters  in  the  Neilson 
house  in  Burnet  street ;  the  Hessian  commander  in  the 
Van  Nuise  house  in  Queen  street.  Fortifications  were 
thrown  up  on  the  hill  beyond  our  Theological  Semi- 
nary, and  two  important  out-posts  were  erected — one  at 
Raritan  Landing,on  an  eminence  overlooking  the  river ; 
the  other  on  Bennet's  Island,  two  miles  below  the  city. 
Many  of  the  officers  were  quartered  u2:>on  the  inhabit- 
ants ;  and  on  the  property  of  William  Van  Deursen, 
below  New  street,  there  was  an  encampment  with  a 
redoubt  thrown  up  for  their  protection. 

Many  of  the  citizens  Avere  compelled  to  abandon 
their  residences ;  all  business  was  susj)ended ;  public 
worship  broken  up,  and  the  whole  town  under  the 
control  of  the  enemy.  The  British  army  immediately 
appropriated  to  their  own  use  all  the  public  buildings 
of  the  city.  The  pews  were  taken  out  of  our  church, 
and  it  was  converted  first  into  a  'hospital,  and  after- 
ward into  a  stable.  The  Presbyterian  church  was 
burned  under  the  followino;  circumstances  :  On  the  re- 
treat  of  the  American  army  from  New-Brunswick, 
Captain  Adam  Hyler,  with  a  small  force,  was  the  last  to 
leave  the  town.  Hotly  pursued  through  the  streets  by 
the  enemy,  he  defended  himself  for  a  short  time  behind 
the  walls  of  the  building ;  when,  overcome  by  a  supe- 
rior force,  he  was  comj)elled  to  abandon  his  position,  and 
the  British  fired  the  edifice,  which,  being  constructed  of 
wood,  was  partially  consumed.  Colonel  Taylor  was  in 
this  eno;ag^ement,  and  for  about  an  hour  was  retained  as 
a^  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy;  but  by  a  bold 


HISTOKICAL   DISCOURSE,  69 

cliarore,  he  was  rescued  from  the  a:iiarcl,  and  returned  to 
his  own  party.'"' 

The  British  remained  in  possession  of  the  city  for 
about  six  months,  and  during  this  period  they  sent  out 
fi'equent  foraging  expeditions  into  the  country.  During 
the  months  of  January,  February,  and  March,  they 
were  shut  up  in  the  town,  being  cut  off  from  their  base 
of  supjolies  at  Amboy.  The  army  was  short  of  pro- 
visions, and  a  fleet  was  sent  up  the  Raritan  to  replen- 
ish their  exhausted  stores.  Lord  Cornwallis,  who  was 
the  military  commander  of  the  post,  was  apprised  of 
this  expected  relief,  and  watched  eagerly  for  the  ap- 
proaching boats.  Just  as  they  rounded  the  point  below 
the  city,  a  battery  of  six  cannon,  which  had  been  put 
into  position  during  the  preceding  night,  opened  upon 
them,  when  five  of  the  boats  were  immediately  dis- 
abled and  sunk,  and  the  remainder  returned  in  a  crip- 
pled condition  to  Amboy.  It  was  at  this  time  that 
General  Howe  in  person  made  an  attempt  to  open  com- 
munication by  land  ;  but  the  expedition  failed,  and  he 
came  near  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Americaus.f 

Tlie  farmers  throughout  this  whole  section  of  country 
were  compelled  to  deliver  over  their  stores   into  the 

*  The  records  of  their  church  are  supposed  at  this  time  to  have  been 
destroyed.  They  were  in  the  hands  of  an  elder,  Dr.  Moses  Scott,  who  was 
compelled  to  take  a  sudden  flight,  leaving  his  property  in  their  hands,  and 
barely  escaped  capture.  He  was  just  sitting  down  to  dinner  when  the  ene- 
my entered  the  town,  who  made  a  feast  at  the  doctor's  expense.  Pie  was 
Surgeon-General  of  the  Army  of  New-Jersey,  and  procured  a  valuable 
supply  of  medicines  from  France,  stored  away  in  boxes,  all  of  whicli  fell 
into  the  enemy's  hands.  But  they  were  of  no  advantage,  for  a  neighbor 
told  them  that  ihe  doctor  had  poisoned  the  medicines  on  purpose  to  destroy 
the  British,  who  at  once  emptied  his  boxes  into  the  streets. — Dr.  Damd- 
sorCs  Huiorical  Sl'etch,  pp.  17,  31,  which  see,  as  also  for  other  facts  connect- 
ed with  the  Piesbvterian  church. 

t  See  Whitehead's  Amboj/,]-).  dil.  Also  for  other  incidents  of  the  Revo- 
lution in  this  country.  Local  traditions  are  still  abundant  and  distinct.  The 
city  which  suffered  so  greatly  has  an  unwritten  history  which  siiould  be 
preseived.  Would  it  not  be  well  to  gather  together  these  items  before  they 
perish  beyond  recovery  ? 


GO  UISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

hands  of  tlie  Britisli.*  At  Three  Mile  Pain  the  huild- 
iugs  Avere  all  plundered,  and  frequently  fired.  Barns 
were  torn  down  to  supply  timber  for  the  construction 
of  a  temporary  bridge  over  the  Raritan,  and  some  of 
the  most  wanton  cruelties  were  inflicted. 

But  they  were  not  allowed  to  remain  in  the  undis- 
turbed possession  of  the  town.  Colonels  Neilson  and 
Taylor  gave  them  constant  trouble ;  Captain  Guest  was 
on  the  watch  for  a  favorable,  opportunity  to  pounce 
upon  the  Hessians  ;  James  Schureman,  who  had  learned 
somethino;  of  war  at  the  battle  of  Lone:  Island,  c-ave 
them  no  rest ;  while  Caj)tain  Hyler,  whose  adventures 
with  his  whale-boats  around  Staten  Island  seem  almost 
romantic,  and  who  could  fight  on  land  as  well  as  on 
water,  kept  them  in  constant  apprehension.  These 
officers  watched  every  movement  of  the  enemy,  drove 
back  their  foraging  parties  into  the  city,  and  often 
skirmished  with  their  outposts. 

Deeds  of  personal  valor  were  of  frequent  occurrence, 
and  traditions  are  2:>reserved  in  the  families  of  the  town 
of  heroism  unsurpassed  in  the  whole  history  of  the 
conflict.     Colonel  Neilson  organized  a  secret  expedition 

*  The  following  schedule  of  property  taken  from  Mr.  John  Van  Licw,  of 
Three  Mile  Run,  will  illustrate  the  ruthless  spirit  of  the  enemy,  and  the 
hardships  encountered  b}^  the  inhabitants  of  this  region  during  the  war. 
The  li.st  is  valuable  as  exhibiting  the  price  of  different  articles  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Revolution,  a  pound  representing  $2.50  of  our  currency. 
I  only  enumerate  the  more  important  articles  taken  by  "  the  Regulars  :" 

£.    s.  £.    s. 

1  span  horses 36  00       38  Albany  boards 4  15 

1  colt,  two  years  old 12  00     700  thin  Albany  boards 2  09 

50  bushels  corn 12  10         1  house  burned 80  00 

28  bushels  wheat 10  00       15  bushels  potatoes 1  17 

Riding  chair  and  harness.  .  .  15  00     300  cwt.  flour 2  14 

80  tons  of  hay 105  00     100  fowls 3  15 

9  cows 5115         8  turkeys 1  00 

25  head  of  sheep 17  10  50  pounds  of  pork,  5d.  per  pound. 

Floors  of  house  and  barn  taken  up.  1  negro,  23  years  old,  smart  and 
active,  £105. 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  61 

against  tlie  outpost  of  tlie  British  on  Beunet's  Island, 
now  known  as  Island  Farm.     With  a  picked  command, 
numbering  two  hundred  men,  he  stealthily  approached 
the  \7orks  on  the  morning  of  February  18th,  some  time 
before  daybreak.     It  was  a  clear,  cold  night,   and  a 
fresh  fall  of  snow  rendered  the  undertaking  extremely 
hazardous.     But  they  reached  the  works  without  being- 
discovered,  and  Colonel  Neilson  was  the  first  man  to 
leap  the  stoclvade.     Captain  Farmer  saved  the  life  of 
his   commander   at    this   moment   by   aiming  a   well- 
directed  blow  at  the  sentinel,  who  was  in  the  act  of 
discharoino;   his    musket   into  his  breast.     The   short 
engagement  lasted  only  a  few  minutes,  when  the  works 
wei'e  surrendered   by  Major  Stockton,    who   w^as   the 
acting  commander  of  the  post  in  the  absence  of  Colonel 
Skinner.     One  captain,  several  subordinate  officers,  and 
fift3^-five  privates  were  taken  j^iisoners,  and  a  quantity 
of  munitions  of  war  were  captured.     The  British  knew 
nothing  of  the  event,  as  only  a  few  guns  were  fired, 
until  some  time  during  the  morning,  when  the  Ameri- 
cans with  their  prisoners  and  booty  were  far  on  their 
way  toward  Princeton,   where  General  Putnam   was 
stationed,  into  whose  hands  they  delivered  their  spoils. 
Colonel  Neilson  and  his  men  received   from    General 
AVashington  a  very  high  comj^liment  for  the  wisdom 
with  which  he  had  planned,  and  the  secrecy  with  which 
he  had  executed,  this  most  successful  expedition. 

On  the  28th  of  May,  Washington,  Avho  had  spent  the 
previous  winter  at  Morristown,  marched  his  army  of 
7500  to  the  heights  of  Middlebrook.  Here  he  lay 
for  two  weeks  watching  the  movements  of  the  enemy  at 
Brunswick,  from  a  position  Avhich  has  since  been  called 
"Washington's  Bock."  In  the  mean  while  the  route  to 
■  Amboy  had  been  oj)ened,  both  by  land  and  water,  and 


62  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

troops  had  been  pushed  forward  to  this  point  in  large 
numbers,  until  by  the  12th  of  June  an  army  of  17,000 
British  and  Hessians  Avas  assembled,  under  those 
v^eteran  commanders,  Generals  Howe,  Cornwallis,  and 
De  Heister.  Both  the  Eno*lish  and  German  com- 
manclers  were  agreed  that  they  had  never  seen  a 
more  splendid  army,  or  one  so  well  disciplined  and 
equipped,  and  in  better  spirits.""'  On  the  14th,  they 
marched  out  of  the  city  in  the  direction  of  Mid- 
dlebush,  with  the  design  of  drawing  on  an  engage- 
ment with  Washington  if  they  could  induce  him  to 
leave  the  strong  position  which  he  occupied.  Re- 
mains of  the  fortifications  which  they  hastily  threw  up 
are  still  visible  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  John  Wilson.  Here 
the  enemy  remained  until  the  19th,  when,  failing  in 
their  desi^rn,  thev  returned  to  Brunswick  and  made 
immediate  preparation  to  evacuate  the  State.  They 
were  pursued  by  the  Americans,  and  so  greatly  har- 
assed on  their  retreat  that  it  was  not  until  the  1st  of 
July  that  they  were  able  to  cross  over  from  Amboy  to 
the  place  of  their  destination  on  Staten  Island. 

After  their  evacuation  of  the  city,  the  inhabitants 
returned  to  their  homes  and  found  every  thing  in  a 
most  desolate  condition.  The  work  of  destruction  had 
been  carried  on  indiscriminately  and  ruthlessly.  The 
devotion  of  the  inhabitants  to  the  cause  of  their  country 
had  exposed  them  to  the  special  wrath  of  their  enemies. 
We  have  the  authority  of  Governor  Livingston  for  the 
statement  that  there  were  very  few  whose  sympathies 


"  "  For  its  numbers,  that  armj'  had  not  its  equal  in  the  ■work!.  Every 
soldier  was  eager  for  a  battle." — Bancroft,  vol.  9,  p.  851.  The  time  was 
eventful  and  critical.  About  the  time  when  these  two  armies  confronted 
each  other,  namely,  June  14th,  Congress  adopted  the  flag  of  our  country. 
The  historian  remarks:  "The  immovable  fortitude  of  Washington  in  his 
camp  at  Middlebrook  was  the  salvation  of  that  beautiful  flag."     P.  352. 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE,  Go 

^vere  witli  the  royal  cause.  In  a  letter  to  Governor 
Bowcloiu,  of  Massachusetts,  on  behalf  of  tlie  Presby- 
terian church,  who  solicited  aid  from  abroad  to  rebuild 
their  church  edifice,  he  Avrites :  "  With  respect  to  the 
political  principles  of  tiie  inhabitants  of  New-Bruns- 
wick, it  may  be  proper  to  do  them  the  justice  of  add- 
ing that  they  have,  through  the  whole  course  of  the 
WHY,  approved  themselves  firm  and  distinguished 
Whigs,  and  inflexibly  persevered  in  their  attachment 
to  the  cause  of  America  in  the  most  gloomy  and  peril- 
ous times  of  her  conflict  with  Great  Britain." 

This,  as  w^e  may  well  suppose,  was  a  gloomy  summer 
in  the  town,  as  well  as  a  dark  day  for  the  country. 
But  nothing  could  discourage  the  hearts  of  j)atriots, 
and  they  immediately  addressed  themselves  to  the 
work  of  rebuilding.  Our  church  edifice  underwent  a 
temporary  repair,  and  for  some  time  was  occupied  on 
alternate  Sabbaths  by  the  Presbyterian  congregation, 
the  blackened  walls  of  whose  buildino;  were  left  stand- 
ing  below  Lyle's  brook.""'  Mr.  Leydt  was  immediately 
at  his  post,  and  j^reached  for  his  j^eople  tv/o  Sabbaths 
in  the  month  of  July,  the  first  service  which  he  had 
been  able  to  hold  in  the  city  since  the  beginning  of 
December.  This  long  interruption  had  a  very  sad 
effect  upon  all  the  interests  of  the  church,  and  the 
troubles  of  the  times  prevented  the  growth  of  the  con- 
gregation. 

Indeed,  during  the  whole  subsequent  part  of  his 
ministry,  which  w\as  brought  to  a  close  in  1783,  the 
town  was  kept  in  a  constant  state  of  alarm.     Caj)tain 

*  The  building  was  not  entirely  destroyed,  but,  as  the  congregation  con- 
templated removing  to  another  part  of  the  city,  instead  of  repairing  the  old 
edifice  it  was  sold  to  Mr.  Ilassert,  who  removed  it  to  New  street  and  con- 
verted it  into  a  dwelling-house.  This  building  is  still  standing,  and  is  now 
No.  21. 


64  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

Hyler,  to  whose  romantic  exploits  I  have  referred,  made 
this  place  his  rendezvous.  He  had  under  his  command 
one  gun-boat,  the  Defiance,  and  several  large  wliale- 
l3oats,  with  which  he  would  proceed  down  the  Raritau 
and  annoy  the  trading  vessels,  transports,  and  plunder- 
ing parties  of  the  enemy  around  Staten  and  Long 
Islands,  and  in  the  neighborhood  of  Sandy  Hook.  He 
selected  only  the  bravest  men,  so  expert  in  the  use  of 
the  oar  that,  "when  rowing  at  the  rate  of  twelve  iniles 
an  hour,  they  could  be  heard  only  at  ashort  distance. 
He  had  the  faculty  of  infusing  into  his  men  his  own 
spirit  of  adventure  and  daring.  On  one  of  his  excur- 
sions he  captured  five  vessels,  two  of  them  armed,  in 
al)out  fifteen  minutes,  within  pistol-shot  of  the  guard- 
ship  at  Sandy  Hook.  In  another  enterprise  he  cap- 
tured an  eighteen-gun  cutter,  which  he  was  forced  to 
blow  up,  after  removing  a  quantity  of  stores  and  ammu- 
nition. His  plan  Avas  to  sally  out  of  his  berth  near  the 
upper  lock,  pass  rapidly  cloAvn  the  river,  make  his  cap- 
tures, and  dash  back  again  often  pursued  by  the  enemy, 
who  made  slow  progress  ^vith  their  heavier  vessels,  and 
dared  not  to  follow  him  alonij:  the  tortuous  channel  of 
the  Raritan. 

The  annoyance  Avas  so  great  that  an  expedition  ot 
three  hundred  men,  in  several  boats,  was  fitted  out  to 
proceed  to  Brunswick,  and  destroy  his  whale-boats  and 
recapture  some  of  the  ammunition.  The  plan  was  car- 
ried into  effect  January  4th,  livS2.  The  river  was  clear- 
of  ice,  and,  proceeding  cautiously  up  the  Raritan,  they 
had  nearly  reached  the  town,  when  at  midnight  Mr. 
Peter  Wyckoff  was  awakened  by  the  barking  of  a 
watch-dog;  and, holding  his  ear  to  the  ground,  he  heard 
the  measured  stroke  of  muffled  oars,  and  at  once  con- 
cluded that  an  attack  was  to  be  made  upon  the  city. 


HISTORICAL   DISCOUESE.  65 

Mounting  a  fleet  liorse,  lie  gave  the  alarm  to  Captain 
Guest,  and  spread  tlie  word  from  house  to  house,  warn- 
in  2:  the  inhabitants  of  dano-er.     A  scene  of  o-reat  excite- 
ment  now  ensued.     Li^'hts  flashed  throuo;li  the  town,, 
and  in  a  short  space  of  time  all  the  able-bodied  men 
were  under  arms.     But  tlie  enemy  had  reached  the 
whale-boats  and  set  them  on  fire,  when  our  men  came 
up,  and,  driving  tliem  ofi",  prevented  them  from  accom- 
plishing their  purpose      They  now  found  that*  their 
only  safety  consisted  in  a  hasty  retreat.    The  night  was- 
dark,  and  a  running  fight  took  place  in  the  streets. 
The  British  endeavored  to  reach  their  boats  by  passing 
down  Queen  street  to  their  rendezvous  at  the  foot  of 
Town  lane.     But  they  were  intercepted  at  the  Dutch 
church,  from  behind  the  walls  of  which  a  volley  was 
fired  as  they  pressed  on,  eager  only  to  escape.     The 
principal  skirmish  took  place  near  Mr.  Agnew's ;  but 
they  succeeded  in  reaching  the  river,  and  made  their 
way  back  to  Stateu  Island.     The  enemy's  loss  in  this 
encounter  was  four  men  killed  and  several  wounded. 
On  the  side  of  the  Americans  there  was  the  loss  of  six 
persons  wounded,  none  proving  fatal,  and  fiv^e  or  six 
prisoners.     A  ball  was  shot  through  the  body  of  John 
Nafey  in  this  skirmish,  but   the  promj^t  attention  of 
Colonel  Taylor  saved  his  life.     The  enemy  completely  . 
failed  in  the  object  of  their  expedition,  and  Captain 
Hyler  was  on  the  water  in  a  few  weeks,  more  daring 
than  ever.     He  died  in  this  city  in  1782;  but,  strange 
to  relate,  no  one  knows  the  place  of  his  burial. 

Some  of  the  members  of  our  congregation  took  a  very 
active  part  in  this  contest,  and  their  names  are  honor- 
ably mentioned  in  the  history  of  the  State.  Of  this 
number  the  Elder  Hendrick  Fisher  was  most  devotedly 
interested  iu  the  cause  of  liis  country.  Perhaj^s  there 
5 


66  niSTORICAL   DISCOUESE. 

was  no  man  whose  influence  was  greater,  or  counsel 
more  souo-ht  after,  during  the  whole  progress  of  the 
war.     He  had  been  long  at  the  head  of  the  affairs  of 
the  church,  and  was  the  acknowledged  leader  in  the 
congregation.     He  was  born  in  the  year    1697,  emi- 
grated to  this  country  when  quite  a  young  man,  and 
was  received  into  the  membership  of  this  church  in 
1721,  shortly  after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Frelinghu^^sen. 
His  elfiction  to  the  office  of  deacon  was  resisted  by  the 
party  opposed  to  the  minister;    but  their  olvjections 
were  overruled,  and  he  was  accordingly  ordained.     He 
was  a  mechanic  by  occupation,  but  a  man  of  great  in- 
telligence, who  deservedly  commanded  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens,  and  occupied  a  very 
prominent  place  in  public  estimation.     In  his  private 
character  he  Avas  irreproachable,  and  for  nearly  sixty 
years  he  was  a  consistent,  useful,  and  active  member 
of  the  church.      The  confidence   which    was  reposed 
in  him  is  indicated  by  his  reelection  to  the  office  of 
elder  on  several  occasions,  and  his  appointment  to  re- 
present the  church  in  all  ecclesiastical  courts.     He  was 
a  zealous   supporter  of  the  Coetus  party,  a  member 
of  the  first  convention  in  1738,  and  an  attendant  at 
each  one  of  their  subsequent  meetings.     On  the  adop- 
tion of  the  Plan  of  Union,  in  1771,  his  name  appears 
among  the  delegates ;  and,  as  a  member  of  one  of  the 
important  committees,  he  Was  instrumental  in  the  in- 
auguration of  that  new  era  of  reconciliation  and   har- 
mony in  the  church.     AVith  all  his  other  attainments, 
he  was  thoroughly  versed  in  the  science  of  theology, 
and  became  a  lay  preacher  and  catechist.     Some  of  his 
sermons    were    published   and   circulated   among   the 
people,  and  are  said  to  have  been  rich  in  their  doc- 
trinal statements  and  pungent  in  their  application  of 
the  truth. 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  67 

In  civil  life  he  took  a  very  honorable  and  imjoortant 
stand.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  tlie  Assembly  of 
this  State,  and  was  serving  in  that  capacity  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Ilevolutionary  war.  Although  he 
was  at  this  time  quite  advanced  in  life,  yet  he  entered 
into  the  contest  with  great  warmth  and  decision,  and  is 
justly  reputed  to  have  contributed  largely  to  the  suc- 
cess of  our  struggle  for  Independence.  He  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New- Jersey,  which 
met  at  Trenton  in  May,  1775,  of  which  important  body 
he  was  elected  president,  and  in  an  opening  address  set 
forth  in  a  forcible  manner  the  grievances  of  the  Ameri- 
can Colonies.  He  was  chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  exercising  legislative  authority  during  the  re- 
cesses of  Congress,  and  held  other  offices  of  honor  and 
trust.  In  his  public  life,  as  in  his  private  character,  he 
was  without  a  blot,  and  evinced  in  all  his  acts  the 
spirit  of  a  Christian  patriot.  While  he  made  himself 
obnoxious  to  his  tory  neighbors  on  account  of  his  un- 
compromising loyalty  to  the  cause  of  his  country,  and 
had  to  go  constantly  armed  in  his  journeys,  yet  he  was 
a  man  of  great  courage,  as  well  as  of  integrity.  The 
scattered  materials  of  his  history  should  be  gathered 
together,  and  his  name  preserved  among  the  honoi'able 
men  of  our  State.  The  residence  of  Hendrick  Fisher 
was  about  five  miles  al)ove  the  city,  on  the  road  to 
Boundbrook,  and  the  farm  which  he  occupied  is  now 
in  the  possession  of  Isaac  Brokaw.  In  an  obscure 
burial-ground,  overgrown  with  a  dense  thicket,  stands 
a  plain  brov/n.  slab,  with  the  simple  inscription,  "  In 
memory  of  Hendrick  Fisher,  who  departed  this  life 
August  16th,  1779,  in  the  eighty-second  year  of  his 
asfe." 

Hon.  James  Schui'eman  was  at  this  time  a -young  man, 


68  niSTOPJCAL   DISCOURSE. 

and  was  in  active  service  during  the  war.  lie  had  gradu- 
ated at  Queen's  College  about  the  year  1773,  and  was  an 
accurate  scholar.  Chiefly  by  means  of  his  example  and 
eloquence  in  pleading  at  public  meetings,  a  company 
was  formed  in  the  town,  who  enlisted  in  the  army,  and 
served  with  great  credit  at  the  battle  of  Long  Island. 
He  had  a  command  as  captain  in  the  early  j)art  of  the 
war,  and  was  offered  a  high  position  in  the  regular 
army.  But  he  preferred  to  serve  as  a  volunteer,  and 
held  himself  ready  to  go  out  at  a  moment's  warning 
against  the  enemy.  In  the  daring  expedition  of  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Simcoe,  at  the.  head  of  the  Queen's 
Rangers,  from  Amboy  to  Somerville,  and  thence  to 
Millstone — one  of  the  most  brilliant  exploits  of  the  war 
— October  25th,  1779,  Captain  Guest  interce])ted  him 
on  his  return  about  two  miles  beyond  Brunswick,  and 
attacked  the  party.  One  man  was  killed  and  several 
wounded ;  Simcoe's  horse  received  three  balls,  and,  fall- 
ing on  him,  wounded  him  severely,  when  a  militia-man 
was  on  the  point  of  piercing  him  with  his  bayonet, 
when  Schureman  knocked  up  his  musket  and  took  him 
prisoner.  Among  the  pursuers  of  the  party  was  a  Cap- 
tain Peter  Gr.  Voorhees,  a  grandson  of  the  Elder  Minne, 
and  a  brother-in-law  of  Colonel  Neilson,  who,  in  his 
zeal,  got  in  advance  of  his  men,  and  was  assaulted  by 
the  enemy.  In  his  effort  to  leap  a  fence  at  the  inter- 
section of  George's  road  and  Town  lane,  his  horse  be. 
came  entangled,  and  the  British,  on  coming  up,  with 
great  cruelty  wounded  him  with  their  swords,  although 
he  was  a  prisoner  in  their  hands,  and  left  him  senseless 
in  the  road.  He  ^Ya.s  brought  into  the  city,  and  sur- 
vived only  a  few  hours.  He  was  a  young  man  very 
highly  esteemed,  a  brave  officer  in  the  regular  army, 
and  the  rage  of  the  inhabitants  at  the  brutal  murder 


HISTORICAL   DISCOUESE.  69 

was  so  s:reat  that,  during:  the  Dio:ht,  the  town  was 
searched  for  Simcoe,  threatening  revenge  on  his  person. 
He  was  concealed  in  the  old  stone  house  on  the  corner 
of  Neilson  and  Albany  streets,  from  whence  he  was  re- 
moved to  Burlington,  where  he  remained  a  prisoner 
until  honorably  exchanged. 

Mr,  Schureman  was  taken  prisoner  during  the  war 
near  the  Mills  on  Lawrence  Brook,  and,  after  being 
confined  for  a  few  days  in  the  guard-house  near  the 
Neilson  mansion,  lie  was  removed  to  the  notorious 
sugar-house,  in  the  rear  of  the  Middle  Dutch  Church, 
New- York,  from  whence  he  made  his  escape  to  the 
American  army  at  Morristown.  After  the  war  was 
closed,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  Congress,  in  1789, 
after  which  he  was  chosen  to  the  United  States  Senate 
for  a  full  term,  and  again  returned  to  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives in  1812,  as  colleague  with  Richard  Stock- 
ton. He  served  several  terms  as  Mayor  of  the  city, 
and  as  a  citizen  was  held  in  high  esteem.  He  was  a 
grandson  of  the  school-master,  Jacobus  Schureman,  and 
an  influential  member  of  the  church.  He  died  January 
22d,  1824,  ill  the  sixty-eighth  year  of  his  age.  The 
confidence  in  which  he  was  held  by  the  community  is 
attested  by  the  ofiices  of  trust  to  which  he  was  ap- 
pointed, both  in  church  and  state,  and,  to  perpetuate 
his  name,  one  of  the  streets  of  the  city  w^as  called  after 
liim,  Schureman  street. 

The  ministry  of  Mr.  Leydt  was  brought  to  a  close  by 
his  sudden  death,  June  2d,  1783,  in  the  sixty-fifth  year 
of  his  age,  and  thirty-fifth  of  his  pastorate.  He  preached 
on  Sabbath  morning,  the  day  preceding,  and  was  smit- 
ten down  by  paral^^sis  about  noon.  His  funeral  was 
attended  from  his  residence,  and  he  was  buried  in  the 


70  HISTORICAL   DIECOURSE. 

yard  at  Three  Mile  Run.'-  He  was  the  pastor  of  this 
church  for  thirty-five  years.  He  left  two  sons,  both  of 
whom  graduated  from  Queen's  College,  and  subse- 
quently entered  the  ministry.  Matthew  was  pastor 
of  a  church  in  Bucks  county.  Pa.,  and  died  Noveml^er 
24th,  1783.f  Peter  was  settled  at  Ramapo,  and  died 
at  that  place  June  12th,  1796.  J  None  of  .>tlie  descend- 
ants of  Mr.  Leydt  are  now  living. 

He  is  described  as  a  short,  stout  man,  of  dark  fea- 
tures, very  quick  in  his  movements,  and  in  his  dispo- 
sition kind  and  affable.  As  a  pastor  he  is  said  to  kave 
been  highly  esteemed,  and  to  have  had  a  peculiar  fac- 
ulty of  drawing  around  him  the  young  people  of  his 
charge.  His  dress  was  the  clerical  costume  of  the 
times,  and  in  his  manners  he  was  a  gentleman  of  the 
old  school  and  made  himself  agreealjle  to  all  classes. 
His  preachino;  was  in  the  Dutch  lano-uao-e,  durins:  the 
early  part  of  his  ministry,  exclusively;  in  his  latter 
years  he  preached  in  English  one  half  the  time.  His 
sermons  were  instructive,  and  always  delivered  with  a 
full  voice  and  an  earnestness  of  manner  that  held  the 
attention  of  his  hearers.  He  was  a  good  man  and  uni- 
versally beloved,  and  his  death  was  a  public  loss.    The 


*  The  graveyard  had  no  connection  with  the  old  church  at  this  spot,  as 
it  was  not  used  as  a  place  of  burial  until  some  years  after  the  building  was 
removed.  Mr.  Leydt's  tombstone  stands  immediately  in  front  of  the  gate, 
with  an  inscription  stating  the  day  of  his  death  and  age.  His  wife,  Treyntje 
Sleight,  died  December  2d,  1763,  aged  thirty-six,  and  is  buried  by  his  side. 
Two  other  stones  mark  the  graves  of  his  children — Elizabeth,  died  October 
27th,  1760,  aged  twelve;  and  Anna,  died  June  10th,  aged  seven  months. 

t  He  is  buried  in  the  old  ground,  at  a  place  familiarly  known  as  "  The 
Buck,"  near  which  stood  the  first  church  building  of  the  congregation  of 
North-Hampton,  Pa.  His  tombstone  bears  the  inscription,  "In  memory 
of  the  Rev.  Matthew  Light,  who  died  the  24th  of  November,  1783,  aged 
twenty-nine  years." 

I  In  the  family  burying-ground  of  Andrew  Hopper,  on  the  margin  of  the 
river  Ramapo,  is  a  plain  stone,  with  the  inscription,  "  In  memory  of  Rev. 
Peter  Light,  who  was  born  the  Gth  of  November,  1763,  and  departed  this 
life  the  12 th  of  June,  1796." 


HISTORICAL   DISCOUKSE.  71 

total  number  of  cadditions  to  the  niembersliip  of  the 
church  during  his  ministry  was  one  hundred  and 
twenty-four.  The  names  of  several  are  omitted  from 
the  record,  and  we  have  no  means  of  ascertaining  the 
actual  number  of  communicants.  The  times  were  un- 
favorable for  religious  growth,  and  the  War  of  Inde- 
pendence effectually  checked  the  prosperity  of  the  con- 
gregation. But  during  all  these  years  he  had  around 
him  a  strong  body  of  active  and  prayhig  men,  and  a 
goodly  company  of  helping  women.  That  there  were 
no  revivals  in  his  ministry  is  not  a  matter  of  sui-prise ; 
that  the  church  continued  in  existence  durino*  all  these 
troublous  times  is  owing  to  the  grace  and  power  of  her 
Head. 

While  his  time  was  very  much  occupied  with  the 
public  affairs  of  the  church  and  the  nation,  in  his  par- 
ticular charge  he  was  always  diligent.  He  has  left  be- 
hind him  the  reputation  of  being  a  great  peace-maker. 
The  fact  that  he  carried  the  two  congregations  through 
the  perilous  time  of  church-building  in  a  spirit  of  har- 
mony— one  previous  to  1766  at  Six  Mile  Run,  the  other 
at  New-Brunswick  completed  in  1767,  in  both  instances 
selectino;  new  sites  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the 
former  localities — would  go  far  to  confirm  the  record. 

During  the  period  under  review  the  proj)erty  known 
as  the  old  burying-ground  came  into  the  possession  of 
the  chui'ch.  The  southern  portion,  including  and  lying 
below  Liberty  street,  which  was  opened  through  it  in 
1810,  was  deeded  to  the  congregation  about  172-9  by 
Mr.  Jan  Van  Nuise,  and  was  the  first  public  cemetery 
of  the  church.  On  August  1st,  1773,  the  lot  was  en- 
larged by  the  gift  of  about  two  acres  from  Mr.  Dennis 
Van  Liew,  deeded  to  the  trustees  under  the  old  char- 
ter, for  the  benefit  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church.     A 


72  niSTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

clause  in  the  deed  states  that  "  the  greatest  part  of  the 
said  piece  of  ground  was  anciently  given  as  a  burial- 
place  for  the  dead,  and  ahv^ays  has  been  used  for  that 
purpose." 

During  the  vacancy  that  followed  on  the  death  of 
Mr.  Leydt,  tlie  pulpit  was  supplied  by  neighboring 
ministers.  On  one  of  these  Sabbaths  the  services  were 
conducted  by  Kev.  AVilliam  Jackson,  the  son-indaw  of 
Mr.  Frelinghuj^sen.  An  anecdote  is  related  of  him, 
which,  at  this  stage  of  our  discourse,  will  seem  quite 
appropriate.  lie  "was  a  great  orator,  according  to  all 
accounts,  but  addicted  to  the  unfortunate  hal)it  of 
preaching  long  sermons.  The  days  were  short,  and  in 
the  morning  service  lie  had  given  them  a  discourse  of 
near  two  hours  in  length,  and  the  afternoon  seemed  to 
])romise  quite  as  long.  Darkness  was  coming  on,  and 
there  were  no  arrano-ements  for  lio-htinof  the  buildino; ; 
when  James  Schureman  2:ave  to  the  minister  a  si^-n 
that  it  would  be  ao-reeable  to  the  conoTeo;ation  if  he 
would  brino'  his  sermon  to  a  cIdsc.  With  o-reat  vehe- 
mence  of  gesticulation  Mr.  Jackson  cried  out  in  a  sten- 
torian voice,  in  the  Dutch  language,  "  Zit  neer,  Jacobus 
fScJmreman,  ih  zeg  zit  neer  /  Paidus  prediMe  tot  den 
midder-naclit r — "Sit  down,  James  Schureman,  I  say 
sit  do\vai ;  Paul  preached  until  midnight." 

Sixty-six  years  had  now  elapsed  since  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  church,  and  from  1720,  the  year  of  Dominie 
Frelinghuysen's  settlement,  they  had  enjoyed  without 
interruption  the  stated  administration  of  the  ordinances. 
But  in  the  summer  of  1783  the  situation  of  the  church 
was  most  perplexing,  and  some  were  greatly  discour- 
aged. The  excellent  pastor,  Mr.  Leyclt,  had  died,  uni- 
versally lamented,  just  at  the  close  of  the  Kevolution- 
arv  war.    The  church  buildino:,  which  had  been  almost 


HISTORICAL  DISCOUESE.  73 

destroyed  by  the  enemy,  tliougli  temporarily  repaired 
on  the  evacuation  of  the  to^\'n  by  the  British  army, 
still  showed  signs  of  the  depredations  to  which  it  had 
been  exposed.  The  people  were  exhausted  with  the 
long  struggle  through  which  they  had  passed,  while 
the  business  of  the  city  had  been  entirely  suspended. 
Many  of  the  families  had  removed  into  the  country  to 
escape  the  troubles  of  the  times,  and  had  not  yet  re- 
turned. The  Presbyterian  church  experienced  similar 
troubles.  After  the  loss  of  their  edifice  by  fire,  instead 
of  rebuilding  on  the  old  site  in  Burnet  street,  they  re- 
moved to  their  present  eligible  situation,  purchasing 
four  lots  at  a  public  vendue  held  by  the  sheriff  of  the 
county,  Abraham  Schuyler,  Esq.,  for  the  sum  of  £148. 
But  the  labor  of  building  the  new  church  did  not 
commence  until  the  following  year,  when  that  congre- 
gation was  forced  to  seek  aid  from  abroad,  under  a 
recommendation  from  Governor  Livingston,  who  repre- 
sents them  as  "  greatly  reduced  in  number,  and  injured 
in  property,  by  the  havoc  of  war." 

This  was  the  situation  of  aftairs  in  the  city  on  the 
death  of  Mr.  Leydt.  But  j^ublic  worship  was  main- 
tained with  considerable  regularity,  as  appears  from 
the  register  of  baptisms,  and  the  entries  made  in  the 
almoner's  book  of  collections  for  the  poor.  But  there 
was  a  work  yet  for  this  church  to  do  under  God,  who 
had  in  store  for  them  a  rich  gift  in  their  next  pastor. 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  Leydt,  Six  Mile  Run  united  with 
Millstone  in  the  settlement  of  Rev.  John  M.  Van 
Harlingen ;  while  New-Brunswick  undertook  the  sup- 
port of  a  minister  alone.  Rev.  Simon  Van  Arsda- 
len,  of  Readington,  was  called  in  1784,  but  he  could 
not  be  induced  to  accej^t  the  invitation,  and  it  was  not 


74  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

until  tlie  tall  of  the  following  year  that  tliey  secured 
the  services  of  the  third  pastor  of  this  church. 

REV.  JACOB  KUTSEX   IIARDEXBERGII,  D.D. 

The  call  v/as  sent  to  him  in  October,  lf85,  but  he 
did  not  commence  his  ministry  until  the  next  spring, 
at  the  same  time  he  assumed  the  Presidency  of  Queen's 
College.  His  father.  Colonel  Johannes  Hardenbergh, 
emigrated  from  Prussia  in  the  latter  part  of  the  seven- 
teenth century,  and,  by  purchase,  became  the  proprietor 
of  a  tract  of  land  in  Ulster  county,  N.  Y.,  known  as  the 
Hardenbergh  Patent.  Jacob  was  born  at  Rosendale,  in 
1738.  His  literary  education  was  not  so  extensive  as 
might  be  desired,  enjoying  only  the  advantages  of  the 
Academy  of  Kingston.  His  theological  studies  he 
pursued  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  John  Freling- 
huysen,  of  Raritan.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the 
Coetus,  in  1757,  when  only  twenty  years  of  age.  His 
preceptor  dying  suddenly,  he  was  immediately  called 
to  succeed  him  in  his  pastoral  chai'ge,  and  in  the  month 
of  May,  1758,  he  commenced  his  labors  in  the  five 
united  cono-recrations  of  Raritan,  North-Branch,  Mill- 
stone,  Bedminster,  and  JSTew-Shannock.  Of  two  of 
these  cono-reo-ations  he  was  relieved  in  1761.  In  this 
extensive  field  he  labored  with  great  fidelity  during  a 
period  of  twenty-five  years.  While  at  Raritan  he  en- 
countered numerous  difficulties.  At  the  commencement 
of  his  ministry,  the  church  was  distracted  with  the 
long  controversy,  which  was  carried  on  witli  great 
warmth  in  his  o^vn  charge,  and  his  latter  years  were 
spent  amid  the  din  of  the  Revolution.* 

*  During  the  latter  part  of  his  ministry  the  congrc.f^ation  was  destitute 
of  a  house  of  worship.  Their  church  edifice  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 
1779,  by  the  British  forces  under  Colonel  Simco,  and  was  not  rebuilt  until 


HISTORICAL   DISCOUESE.  75 

He  remained  at  Somerville  until  the  year  1781, 
wlien  lie  retired  to  Ms  native  place  and  served  the 
church  at  Rochester  until  his  removal  to  this  city  in 
the  month  of  April,  1786.  Almost  immediately  on  the 
death  of  Mr.  Leydt,  this  church  looked  to  him  as  his 
successor,  and  at  the  same  time  the  trustees  of  the 
college  desired  his  services  as  its  President,  electing  as 
his  associate  John  Taylor,  the  patriot  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy  and  Mathematics. 
With  this  two-fold  charge  he  labored  with  intense  zeal 
and  devotion,  and  drew  around  him  a  strong  congrega- 
tion. Early  in  the  year  1787,  the  church  edifice,  which 
had  been  temporarily  repaired  after  the  destruction  of 
the  war,  was  thoroughly  remodeled.  The  building  was 
reseated  and  painted,  a  fence  for  the  first  time  erected 
around  the  inclosure,  and  burials  in  the  ground  com- 
menced. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  a  marked  period  in  the 
histoiy  of  the  church.  Dr.  Hardenbergh  had  endeared 
himself  to  the  people  by  the  influence  he  had  exerted 
during  the  struggle  for  Independence.  Pie  had  shown 
a  willingness  to  serve  his  country  by  any  sacrifice  or 
labor  that  he  could  render  in  her  cause.  He  was  the 
personal  friend  of  Washington,  whose  headquarters 
durino;  several  months  were  within  the  bounds  of  his 
congregation  at  Raritan,  and  who  uniformly  attended 
his  church,  taking  his  seat  at  the  head  of  the  elders' 
pew.  On  two  different  occasions  he  was  selected  by 
our  citizens  to  deliver  the  oration  at  the  Anniversary  of 
Independence,  and  among  all  classes  he  was  eminently 
popular. 


1788,  seven  years  after  Mr.  Hardenbergh' s  resignation.  The  sufferings  of 
that  community  were  so  great  that  it  is  not  a  matter  of  surprise  that  they 
were  so  long  destitute  of  a  sanctuary. 


76  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

He  was  a  man  of  slender  frame,  and  gave  early  indi- 
cations of  pulmonary  disease.  His  failing  healtli  inter- 
fered witli  bis  ministerial  work,  and  lie  was  only  sus- 
tained by  great  firmness  of  purpose  and  a  spirit  of  ele- 
vated devotion.  Admonished  by  his  failing  health  that 
his  ministry  might  be  sliort,  he  embraced  every  oppor- 
tunity to  make  the  Gospel  message  tell  upon  the  hearts 
of  his  hearers.  I  have  a  letter  written  by  him  to  Dr- 
Livingston,  a  short  time  preceding  his  death,  breathing 
a  beautiful  spirit  of  Christian  trust  and  resignation,  and 
exhibiting  the  character  of  a  true  ambassador  of  the 
Lord  Jesus. 

His  increasing  indisposition  led  him  "  to  take  fre- 
quent reviews  of  a  life  so  far  spent,"  and  he  exclaims : 
"  Oh  !  what  abundant  reasons  of  humiliation  before  God 
has  such  a  poor  creature  as  I  am.  Blessed  be  God !  a 
Jesus  is  given,  is  living,  is  interceding  for  poor,  indi- 
gent, sinful  worms.  I  am  sure,  if  there  was  not  such  a 
plan  of  salvation  provided  and  irresistibly  executed, 
my  hope  for  a  world  of  happiness  would  sink  into 
gloomy  despair.  But  on  a  review  of  many  experiences 
of  pardoning  and  supporting  grace — free,  infinitely  free 
grace — my  hope  for  a  future  happy  world  receives 
wings;  and,  on  renewed  views  of  such  a  suitable  and 
glorious  2:)lan  of  redemj^tion — views  of  my  dearest  Je- 
sus— I  try  to  mount  on  high,  and  now  think  I  would 
venture  with  satisfaction  into  the  world  of  spirits." 

But  in  the  midst  of  great  feebleness  he  labored  in- 
cessantly in  the  cause  of  his  Master  and  for  the  up- 
building of  this  church.  On  the  30th  of  March,  1790, 
he  procured  for  this  church  an  act  of  incorporation 
under  the  general  law  of  tlie  State  of  New-Jersey, 
passed  at  Perth  Amboy,  November  25th,  1789,  assum- 
ing the  name  of  "  the  Ministers,  Elders,  and  Deacons  of 


niSTOKICAL   DISCOURSE.  77 

the  Consfresfation  of  New-Brunswick."  The  seal  of  the 
coi'poration  adopted  at  a  subsequent  meeting  of  Con- 
sistory Las  the  appropriate  device  of  a  burning  lamp  in 
the  centre,  and  the  words  "Dutch  Cliurch  of  New- 
Brunswick"  in  the  circumference,  which  was  henceforth 
to  be  affixed  to  all  legal  documents.  This  is  the  pres- 
ent title  which  we  hold  in  law,  and  according  to  which 
we  transact  all  the  temporal  concerns  of  the  congrega- 
tion. 

But  his  useful  and  laborious  life  w^as  drawing  to  a 
close.  In  hopes  that  traveling  and  a  change  of  climate 
would  administer  relief,  he  spent  a  few  weeks  in  the 
months  of  Aj^ril  and  May,  1790,  in  his  native  town; 
but  he  returned  worse  than  when  he  left  the  city,  "and 
was  almost  determined  to  relinquish  business,  and  to 
retire  to  his  farm  durino:  the  summer  season."  But  he 
could  not  abandon  the  work  of  the  ministry,  nor  leave 
his  post  as  the  President  of  the  college.  Again  he 
sought  relief  in  a  change  of  objects,  and  in  rest  at  Perth 
Amboy,  in  attendance  upon  the  Legislature  then  in  ses- 
sion. And  now  he  returns  so  much  invisforated  that 
he  is  able  to  preach  the  preparation  sermon  on  Satur- 
day, and  administer  the  communion  and  preach  twice 
on  the  Lord's  Day  with  comparative  ease.  "  I  enter- 
tain some  hopes,"  he  writes,  "  that  the  God  of  all  grace 
did  not  leave  himself  without  some  witness."  It  was 
his  last  communion  season,  and  he  enjoyed  in  an  un- 
usual degree  the  presence  and  support  of  his  precious 
Saviour.  "  Oh  !  how  sweet,  how  comforting  the  promise," 
is  his  language  to  Dr.  Livingston,  "  that  he  will  not  for- 
sake his  people.  Let  us  believe,  trust,  and  pray  for 
grace,  to  be  made  faithful  to  our  God  unto  death." 
And  that  event  for  which  he  was  so  fully  prepared  was 
not  far  off.     His  work  was  now  done,  and  the  Master 


78  niSTOEICAL   DISCOURSE. 

was  waiting  to  receive  liiin.  He  resigned  the  presi- 
dency of  the  college  in  the  summer,  and  died  quite 
unexpectedly  on  the  20th  of  October,  1790,  in  the  fifty- 
third  year  of  his  age.  His  tomb  stands  at  the  east  of 
the  pulpit,  and  the  inscription,  prepared,  as  we  un- 
derstand by  Dr.  Livingston,  though  nearly  erased  by 
the  action  of  the  elements,  gives  a  riiost  admirable 
exhibition  of  his  character.'"* 

His  call  to  the  presidency  of  the  college  shows  tlie 
estimation  in  which  he  was  held  as  a  scholar  and  disci- 
plinarian, as  well  as  a  divine.  His  analyses  of  sermons 
speak  for  both  the  vigor  of  his  intellect  and  the  thor- 
oughness of  his  theoloo'ical  education.     He  was  a  man 

O  CD 

of  strong  mind  and  extensive  reading,  and  in  his  day 
was  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  Re- 
formed Dutch  Cliurch.  On  four  different  occasions  he 
was  chosen  President  of  General  Synod,  and  he  was 
long  regarded  as  second  only  to  Dr.  Livingston,  with 
whom  he  constantly  cooperated  in  all  the  interests  of 
the  church  and  the  colleo-e.  He  labored  for  the  estab- 
lishment  of  this  institution,  and  by  personal  applications 
from  door  to  door,  along  with  Dominie  Leydt,  procured 
the  orioinal  funds  for  its  endowment.  Several  memo- 
rials  to  the  General  Synod  urging  the  claims  of  the 
college,  written  by  him,  are  still  preserved,  and  bear 
witness  to  the  zeal  with  which  he  advocated  the  claims, 

*  Here  lies  the  body  of  J.  R.  Hardenbergb,  D.D.,  late  pastor  of  this 
church,  who  departed  this  hfe  the  oOtli  day  of  October,  1790,  aged  fifty- 
two  years, months,  and days.     He  was  a  zealous  preacher  of  the 

Gospel,  and  his  life  and  conversation  afforded,  from  his  earliest  days,  to  all 
who  knew  him,  a  bright  example  of  real  piety.  He  was  a  steady  patriot, 
and  in  his  public  and  private  conduct  he  manifested  himself  to  be  the  ene- 
my of  tyranny  and  oppression,  the  lover  of  freedom,  and  the  friend  of  his 
countr}^  He  has  gone  to  his  Lord  and  Redeemer,  in  whose  atonement  he 
confidently  trusted.  He  has  gone  to  receive  the  fruits  of  his  faithful  labors, 
and  the  reward  of  a  well-spent  life.  Reader,  while  you  lament  the  loss  to 
society  and  his  fiiends,  go  walk  in  his  virtuous  footsteps  ;  and  when  you  have 
finished  the  work  assigned  you,  you  shall  rest  with  him  in  eternal  peace. 


UISTOEICAL    DISCOUESE.  79 

and  the  affection  which  he  felt  for  an  institution  to 
whicli  he  had  devoted  his  best  enermes.  His  last 
public  act  was  a  plea  before  the  Synod,  at  their  meet- 
iug  in  New- York,  October  5th,  1790,  that  they  would 
provide  means  to  sustain  the  college  and  furnish  the 
early  succor  so  greatly  needed.  As  its  first  President, 
he  labored  under  the  disadvantas:es  of  a  small  endow- 
ment,  few  assistants  in  giving  instruction,  and  the  want 
of  proper  facilities  in  the  way  of  library,  buildings,  and 
apparatus.  But  he  sent  out  several  able  scholars,  and 
laid  foundations  which  have  made  this  cherished  seat 
of  learning  one  of  the  prominent  institutions  of  our 
land. 

As  the  pastor  of  this  church  he  had  a  very  successful 
ministry.  On  two  different  occasions  there  was  the  un- 
usual manifestation  of  God's  Spirit  in  the  conversion 
of  souls.  The  whole  number  received  into  tlie  cliurch 
during  the  four  years  of  his  pastorate  v^^as  sixty-nine. 
At  his  first  communion  he  admitted  fifteen  on  profes- 
sion of  their  faith,  and  in  the  yetir  1788  twenty -seven 
were  added  to  the  church.  Indeed,  his  wiiole  ministry 
seems  to  have  been  a  continual  revival,  a  most  blessed 
close  to  a  most  useful  and  laborious  life.  He  was  re- 
membered by  a  few  of  the  aged  inhabitants  when  I 
first  settled  here,  and  it  would  seem  that  they  were  not 
able  to  speak  sufficiently  in  his  praise.  He  was  elo- 
quent in  the  j)ulpit,  and  impressed  every  one  with  his 
tone  of  devotional  feeling — a  minister  eminently  be- 
loved by  all  who  knew  him. 

Dr.  Hardenbergh  was  the  last  minister  ot  this  church 
who  preached  in  the  Dutch  language.  His  plan  was 
to  use  the  Dutch  at  the  morning  service  and  the  Eng- 
lish in  the  afternoon.  From  this  date  all  the  records  of 
the  church  are  kept  wholly  in  English,  and  the  Dutch 
passed  away  forever. 


80  HISTOEICAL  DISCOURSE. 

On  his  settlement  at  Raritan  lie  mamed  the  widow 
of  his  preceptor,  Rev.  John  Frelinghuysen,  to  whose 
influence  he  was  indebted,  in  no  small  degree,  for  his 
eminent  usefulness.     The  character  which  she  has  left 
behind  her,  under  the  familiar  name  of  the  Jufvrow 
Hardenbergh,  distinguishes  her  as  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable women  of   her  day.     Dinah  Van  Berg  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Amsterdam,  February  10th,  1725. 
Her  father  was  a  wealthy  merchant,  extensively  en- 
gaged in  the  East  India  trade,  who  reared  his  family  in 
the  midst  of  all  the  fashion  and  ]'eiinement  of  the  me- 
troplis,  but  without  any  instruction  in  religion.     She 
became  the  subject  of  divine  grace  in  early  youth,  and 
was  remarkable  for  her  raj)id  attainments  in  godliness 
and  unusual  exercises  of  faith.     Her  naturally  strong 
intellect  w^as  developed  by  her  early  education,  and  the 
vigor  of  her  mind  was  seen  even  down  to  the  period  of 
old  age.     While  still  residing  in  her  father's  house,  her 
attainments  in  the  i-eli2:ious  life  were  so  marked  and 
decided  as  to  arrest  attention  from  all  who  knew  her. 
It  is  related  that  on  the  occasion  of  her  prostration  by 
sickness,  though  the  prosj^ect  of  her  recovery  was  re- 
garded as  hopeless  by  the  most  skillful  physician,  yet 
she  had  such  faith  in  God  that  he  w-ould  raise  her  up, 
and  give  her  a  work  to  do  in  the  church,  that  she  fixed 
upon  the  very  day  when  the  progress  of  the  disease 
would  be  arrested  and  her  health  completely  restored. 
And  almost  at  the  hour   indicated  she  started  in  a 
course  of  rapid  improvement,  and  it  was  always  be- 
lieved by  her  that  God  had  spared  her  life  in  answer 
to  special  prayer. 

She  became  acquainted  with  Mr.  John  Frelinghuysen, 
then  pursuing  his  theological  studies,  during  this  very 
sickness ;  and  shortly  after,  though  at  first  strongly  op- 


^  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  81 

posed  by  lier  parents,  she  was  united  with  him  in  mar- 
riao-e,  and  embarked  for  her  home  in  America.  The 
death  of  her  husband,  in  the  twenty -fifth  year  of  his 
age,  brought  her  to  the  decision  of  returning  immedi- 
ately to  her  native  country.  She  was  upon  the  point 
of  embarking  with  her  two  children  on  the  voyage  to 
Holland,  when  Mr.  Hardenbergh,  who  had  not  yet 
completed  his  studies,  made  her  an  offer  of  marriage. 
Her  surprise  was  indicated  by  the  answer,  "  My  child, 
what  are  j'^ou  thinking  about?"  Yielding  to  the  soli- 
citation, she  consented  to  a  second  marriage,  with  this 
young  man,  who  became,  as  we  have  seen,  a  distin- 
guished scholar  and  divine,  and  was,  no  doubt,  a  most 
efficient  co-worker  with  him  in  the  important  services 
he  rendered  to  his  country  and  the  church. 

She  was  a  woman  of  great  intelligence  as  well  as  of 
piety,  an  extensive  reader  and  correspondent,  and  her 
influence  was  felt  throughout  the  whole  denomination. 
For  a  considerable  period  she  kept  an  elaborate  jour- 
nal, still  preserved,  which  is  said  to  be  superior  for  its 
tone  of  spirituality  and  of  great  intellectual  vigor. 
Thus  she  commences:  "It  was  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1747;  midnight  had  arrived  and  passed,  and  I 
continued  in  earnest  supplication  before  the  Lord, 
yielding  myself  anew  to  walk  in  his  ways,  to  be  en- 
gaged in  his  service,  and  to  cleave  to  his  people.  My 
heart  went  forth  in  earnest  desires  after  larger  measures 
of  the  renewing  grace  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Oh  !  that  old 
things  might  be  made  more  fully  to  pass  away,  the 
power  of  depravity  be  brought  into  subjection,  and  the 
blessed  image  of  the  Lord  Jesus  be  more  fully  trans- 
ferred to  me,  and  all  things  become  new.  My  soul 
arose  in  petitions  to  God  for  the  dear  jDeoj^le  of  the 
Lord,  both  at  my  own  place  at  Amsterdam  and  else- 
6 


83  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

where,  that  God  would  grant  tliem  a  renewal  of  Lis 
loving-kindness  and  larger  measures  of  faith.  Oh ! 
that  the  Lord  Avould  bring  many  of  the  people  out  of 
their  distresses;  that  a  formal  Christianity  might  j)ass 
away,  and  the  power  of  godliness  be  made  again  to 
appear.  For  God's  ministering  servants  I  also  found 
in  my  heart  to  supplicate  much  assistance  in  their 
weighty  work,  that  they  might  be  more  and  moi'e 
faithful,  and  firm  in  their  attachment  to  the  cause, 
truth,  and  people  of  God,  and  be  enabled  by  a  con- 
sistent and  godly  walk  to  be  examples  to  the  flock." 

The  following  devout  exercises  on  her  birthday  are 
recorded  in  her  journal :  "  Friday,  February  10th,  1747, 
I  was  twenty-two  years  old.  I  awoke  with  these  words 
upon  my  mouth,  '  I  was  cast  upon  Thee.'  My  thoughts 
became  fixed  in  intent  contemplation  upon  the  wonder- 
ful dealiu2:s  of  God  with  me  even  from  the  first  mo- 
ments  of  my  existence,  and  I  was  led  to  say,  '  Many  are 
thy  wonderful  works  towards  me.'  I  was  led  in  de- 
vout meditation  upon  the  preserving  care  of  God  over 
me,  and  the  wonderful  deliverance  I  had  experienced ; 
upon  his  bounty  to  me  as  to  the  things  of  this  world ; 
but  especially  upon  the  dealings  of  his  grace  that  in 
my  youth  he  was  pleased  to  draw  me  out  of  the  midst 
of  the  evil  world.  I  now  earnestly  desire  more  en- 
tirely to  consecrate  myself  unto  God,  and  to  yield  to 
him  the  best  of  my  time  and  strength."  The  whole 
journal  is  pervaded  with  a  similar  sj^irit,  and  exhibits 
a  mind  in  direct  and  habitual  communion  with  God. 

Mrs.  Hardenbergh  has  left  at  her  first  home  in  Rari- 
tan,  as  well  as  in  New-Brunswick,  a  name  which  places 
her  in  the  hisrhest  rank  of  female  Christians.  In  this 
city  she  was  a  most  efficient  aid  to  her  husband  in  the 
discharge  of  his  various  duties.     She  visited  the  sick, 


nrSTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  83 

attended  to  the  necessities  of  the  poor,  and  was  a  com- 
forter in  homes  of  affliction.  The  two  services  on  the 
Sabbath  were  held  with  an  intermission  of  one  horn", 
during  which  time  the  country  members  of  the  congre- 
gation would  remain  until  the  afternoon  sermon.  Juf- 
vrow  Hardenbergh  employed  the  interval  in  pious  con- 
versation with  the  people,  and,  gathering  around  her  a 
group  of  hearers,  would  frequently  enter  into  an  elabo- 
rate exposition  of  some  point  in  Christian  doctrine  or 
passage  of  Scripture.  She  was  a  warm  friend  of  the 
college,  and  on  the  death  of  her  husband  was  anxious 
that  a  successor  should  be  immediately  appointed,  and 
the  institution  fostered  and  built  up.  There  is  in  ex- 
istence a  letter  written  to  Dr.  Livingston,  July  2d, 
1791,  in  which  she  pleads  earnestly  with  him  to  accept 
the  position  of  president,  to  which  he  had  been  elected, 
and  remove  to  New-Brunswick.  New-York  could 
spare  him  in  view  of  this  more  pressing  call.  She 
writes:  "There  are  more  hopes  that  that  breach  would 
be  healed  than  the  one  among;  us.  Where  is  there  a 
man  for  us  ?  Our  Dutch  ministers  are  young  men  of 
little  experience,  and  have  no  publicity  in  the  church, 
however  much  otherwise  esteemed  and  loved  by  us. 
My  dear  sir,  I  have  heard  you  say  to  my  now  departed 
husband  that  you  regarded  the  college  as  the  fountain 
of  the  church ;  why,  then,  be  engaged  with  the  streams, 
and  let  the  fountain  dry  up?  The  Lord  enable  you  to 
discern  what  is  His  holy  will ;  and,  if  you  can  do 
nothing  more,  oh !  pray  for  us,  and  by  your  counsel 
and  cooperation  be  to  us  instead  of  eyes."  She  had 
just  been  permitted  to  partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper  in 
this  church,  and  she  assures  Dr.  Livingston  that  the 
Saviour  never  seemed  to  her  more  precious.  "  This  pre- 
cious Lord  Jesus  will  be  our  joy  in  heaven.     Oh  !    the 


84  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

blessedness  of  being  permitted  to  cast  our  crowns  for- 
ever before  bira." 

This  remarkable  -woman  survived  ber  busband  seven- 
teen years,  and  died  at  tbe  residence  of  ber  son,  Hon. 
J.  R.  Hardenbergh,  No.  14  Water  street,  March  2Gth, 
1807.  She  bad  attained  tbe  venerable  age  of  eigbty- 
two  years,  and  ber  deatb  was  a  scene  of  triumph.  She 
rests  by  the  side  of  her  husband,  "  of  high  attainments 
bere  in  grace,  now  resting  in  glory."  Tbe  following 
verse,  of  great  poetic  beauty,  very  appropriately  testi- 
fies to  ber  exalted  attainments,  and  is  engraved  upon 
ber  tomb-stone : 

"Tell  how  she  climbed  the  everlasting  hills, 
Survejnng  all  the  realms  above ; 
Eorne  on  a  strong-winged  faith,  and  on 
The  liery  wheels  of  an  immortal  love." 

The  children  of  ber  first  marriao-e  were  a  daus-bter, 
Eva,  wbo  became  tbe  wife  of  Mr.  Casj)er  Van  Nostrand, 
of  Ulster  county,  N.  Y.,  Avliere  several  of  ber  descend- 
ants are  still  living;  and  Frederick,  the  fatber  of  the 
late  Hon.  Theodore  Frelingbuysen.  All  wbo  bear  this 
honored  name  in  our  section  of  country  are  the  de- 
scendants of  Frederick,  the  only  son  of  Kev.  John  Fre- 
lingbuysen, of  Raritan. 

At  tbe  close  of  Mr.  Hardenbergb's  ministry,  the 
cburch  w^as  in  a  settled,  prosj^erous,  and  harmonious 
condition.  They  bad  enjoyed  only  for  a  short  time  the 
labors  of  this  devoted  man,  but  they  bad  been  yeavs  of 
grovvtb  and  improvement  in  every  department  of  churcb 
life.  His  ripest  views  of  truth  he  had  here  preached, 
bis  fervent  appeals  and  instructions  bad  been  blessed 
by  encouraging  ingatherings,  and  the  tenderness  of  his 
spirit,  discij)lined  by  affliction,  bad  left  its  impress  on 
xill  bearts.     It  is  said  that  the  day  of  bis  funeral  was 


HISTOEICAL   DISCOURSE.  85 

one  of  great  solemnity.  He  liacl  been  a  man  of  distinc- 
tion in  civil  life,  as  well  as  in  ecclesiastical  and  educa- 
tional interests.  An  active  member  of  the  convention 
that  framed  the  first  constitution  of  New-Jersey,  a 
patriot  whose  life,  often  threatened  by  his  tory  neigh- 
bors, had  compelled  liim  to  sleep  with  a  loaded  musket 
at  bis  bed-side,  caused  the  whole  community  to  recog- 
nize in  his  death  the  loss  of  one  of  their  most  distin- 
guished citizens,  as  well  as  a  great  divine. 

As  soon  as  the  church  could  I'ecover  from  the  pain 
of  their  loss,  they  sought  for  a  suitable  successor,  but 
were  subjected  to  repeated  disappointments.  It  was 
again  proposed  that  the  Consistory  of  the  church  should 
call  as  their  pastor,  and  the  trustees  of  the  college  should 
elect  as  their  president,  one  who  should  discharge  the 
duties  of  both  offices.  Under  this  arrano-ement  Dr. 
Livingston  was  elected,  1jut  declined ;  so  also  did  Dr. 
Theodoric  Romeyn.  In  the  mean  while  the  college  con- 
tinued to  languish,  until  the  year  1795,  when  its  doors 
were  closed,  not  to  be  opened  until  its  revival  under 
the  efficient  management  of  the  succeeding  pastor  of 
this  church,  in  1807.  Two  years-  were  consumed  in 
these  negotiations,  and  now  the  church  enters  upon  the 
work  alone,  and  in  earnest. 

An  effort  was  made  to  settle  Rev.  John  Bassett  in 
October,  1792,  then  pastor  of  the  church  of  Albany,  but 
Avithout  success.  So  urerent  was  the  cono;re2:ation  that 
the  effort  was  renewed,  with  the  promise  of  a  large  ad- 
dition to  the  salary,  but  with  a  similar  result.  The 
pulpit  remained  vacant  until  quite  late  in  the  year 
1793.  In  the  early  part  of  the  summer  of  that  year, 
a  man  in  the  prime  of  life  preached  in  the  Presbyterian 
church,  with  whom  our  people  were  so  well  pleased 
that  they  invited  him  to  remain  and  sujDply  their  pulpit 


86  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

tLe  following  Sabbat li.     The  result  was  a  unanimous 
call,  August  24:th,  1793,  to  the  fourth  pastor, 

EEV.    IRA    CONDICT,    D.D. 

He  Avas  born  at  Orange,  Essex  county,  February 
21st,  1764.  He  received  his  academic  instruction  under 
Dr.  McWhorter,  of  Newark,  and  became  a  student  of 
Princeton  College.  He  became  a  subject  of  grace  while 
a  member  of  college,  and  immediately  devoted  himself 
to  the  gosj^el  ministry.  It  is  said  that  he  cherished  a 
desire  for  the  ministry  from  his  youth,  and  was  accus- 
tomed to  view  every  Providence  as  pointing  toward 
the  sacred  office.  While  a  member  of  college,  he  took 
a  very  high  stand  as  a  scholar,  and  Avas  particularly 
distinguished  for  his  accuracy  in  the  classics.  He  gra- 
duated from  that  institution  in  the  year  1784,  under  the 
presidency  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  John  Witherspoon. 
His  theological  studies  he  j^ursued  under  the  direction 
of  Dr.  Woodhull,  of  Monmouth,  and  Avas  licensed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  NeAV-Bruns,Avick  in  178G.  April  20th, 
1787,  he  Avas  called  to  the  united  congregations  of 
NcAvtoAvn  and  HardAvick,  in  Sussex  county,  and  imme- 
diately entered  upon  the  field  of  his  labors.  Here  he 
found  a  Avide  and  destitute  region,  demanding  great 
energy  of  character  and  powers  of  endurance.  Within 
the  compass  of  his  old  pastoral  cliarge  noAV  exist  several 
flourishing  Presl^yterian  churches,  as  also  of  other  de- 
nominations. His  ministry  continued  at  this  place  for 
six  years,  and  he  left  there  the  impress  of  his  noble 
character.  He  Avas  aided  and  encouraged  by  a  most 
excellent  Avife,  Avhom  many  of  you  Avill  remember  as 
"  highly  gifted  in  intellectual  and  spiritual  graces,"  and 
Avhose  mind  retained  all  of  its  A^o^or  in  the  midst  of 
protracted  sufferings. 


HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE,  87 

In  Dr.  Condict's  call  it  is  stipulated  tliat  the  services 
are  to  be  conducted  in  the  English  language,  and  that 
he  should  preach  two  sermons  in  summer  and  one 
during  the  winter  months.  He  was  also  to  hold  regu- 
lar services  "  on  the  instituted  feast-days  of  Christmas, 
New- Year,  Easter,  Whitsunday,  and  Ascension  day,  ac- 
cording to  the  custom  of  the  church."  The  salary  pro- 
mised was  £180,  and  a  comfortable  dwelling-house. 
The  names  of  the  following  officers  are  attached  to  the 
call :  John  Schureman,  John  Van  Neste,  William  Van 
Deursen,  Garret  Voorhees,  elders;  Fredrick  Outcalt, 
John  Thompson,  Denice  Vanliew,  and  John  Bice,  dea- 
cons. The  original  subscription-paper  is  still  preserved, 
headed  by  the  name  of  John  Schureman,  the  son  of  the 
school-master.  On  the  list  we  find,  in  a  large  bold 
hand,  the  signature  of  Dinah  Hardenbergh,  a  ruling 
power  in  the  church,  as  Ave  have  seen ;  as  also  that  of 
John  Neilson,  a  Presbyterian,  whose  wife,  Catharine 
Voorhees,  always  retained  her  connection  with  the 
Dutch  Church. 

Dr.  Condict  did  not  commence  his  resrular  duties  as 

O 

the  pastor  of  the  church  until  the  first  of  November. 
The  extent  of  the  cono;re2;ation  at  the  commencement  of 
his  ministry  will  give  some  idea  of  the  amount  of  labor 
that  he  performed.  In  addition  to  the  town  charge, 
the  families  extended  north  to  Boundbrook,  and  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  Raritan  to  New-Market,  south 
along  George's  road  five  miles,  and  down  to  South 
river,  and  west  two  miles  beyond  the  present  site  of 
the  Middlebush  church. 

The  first  .act  of  the  Consistory  was  to  procure  a  suit- 
able residence  for  the  minister.  For  a  few  months  Mr. 
Condict  lived  in  Neilson  street,  now  number  eight,  in  a 
house  rented  of  William  Lawson,  at  the  rate  of  £37 


88'  HISTORICAL  DISCOUESE. 

lOs.  per  annum.  When  the  churches  of  New-Bruns- 
^\dch:  and  Six  Mile  Run  were  in  connection,  they  owned 
a  parsonage  at  Three  Mile  Run.  On  the  death  of  Mr. 
Leydt,  this  j^i'operty  was  sold  to  Mr.  Jacob  Skillman, 
and  the  portion  that  fell  to  the  share  of  this  church, 
£195  8s.  4d.,  was  appropriated  to  the  purchase  of  seven- 
teen acres  of  land  on  George's  road,  now  in  possession 
of  Mr.  Edwin  Allen,  at  a  cost  of  £200,  and  also  a  house 
and  lot  in  Church  street,  now  number  sixty-two,  of 
John  Bray.  The  building  was  in  an  unfinished  state, 
and  cost,  with  the  repairs,  made  under  the  direction  of 
the  Consistory,  £475  lis.  6d.  Here  Dr.  Condict  resided 
until  his  removal,  in  1798,  to  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  thirteen  acres,  near  Milltown,  now  the  property  of 
Mr.  Henry  H.  Booram,  but  wdncli  is  still  known  as  the 
Condict  farm.""*  The  situation  was  distant  and  incon- 
venient; but  that  the  church  did  not  suffer  in  conse- 
quence of  his  residence  so  far  from  the  centre  is  evident 
from  its  steady  growth,  demanding  additional  church 
accommodations,  which  was  accomplished  in  1803  by 
the  erection  of  commodious  galleri"es,  and  by  the  ad- 
vance of  his  salary  from  £180  to  £280,  in  connection 
with  a  commodious  j^arsonage. 

While  there  does  not  seem  to  have  been  any  remark- 
able season  of  revival  under  his  ministry,  yet  there  was 
a  gradual  increase  to  the  membership  of  the  church, 

*  Dr.  Condict  purchased  a  property  in  Church  street,  number  seventy- 
four,  to  which  he  removed  in  the  spring  of  1704,  and  resided  there  until  the 
parsonage  was  completed.  This  house  was  sold  by  his  widow  a  few  j'ears 
afler  his  death.  The  parsonage  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  Consistory 
until  1809,  when  it  was  sold  to  Mr.  Henr}'  Van  Arsdalen.  The  seventeen 
acres  in  George's  road  were  sold  about  the  same  time,  and  a  property  of 
four  or  five  acres  purchased  on  Somerset  and  Hamilton  streets,  known  in 
subsequent  transactions  of  Consistory  as  "the  parsonage  lot."  In  the 
speculation  in  city  lots  M'hich  prevailed  in  this  town  in  the  year  1814,  a 
part  of  this  ground  was  surveyed,  laid  out  into  squares,  and  sold  at  high 
prices;  but  parties  who  purchased  failed,  and  very  little  was  ever  realized 
for  a  projierty  which  is  now  of  great  value. 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  89 

and  it  is  a,  gratifying  record  that  no  communion  season 
passed  without  tlie  addition  of  some  new  members.* 
Among  this  number  there  were  three  young  men  who 
subsequently  entered  the  gospel  ministry,  and  occupied 
distinguished  positions  in  the  church,  John  Schureman, 
John  S.  Yredenbergh,  and  Kobert  Bronk. 

Dr.  Condict  was  one  of  the  most  efficient  pastors 
whom  this  church  has  enjoyed.  While  he  was  practical 
and  earnest  as  a  preacher,  and  always  came  into  the 
pulpit  with  a  well-prepared  discourse,  among  the  fami- 
lies  of  his  charge  he  excelled.  In  catechising,  pastoral 
visitation,  and  labors  among  the  poor  he  had  not  his 
superior.  He  was  remarkably  punctual  in  all  his  en- 
gagements, and  in  his  most  distant  preaching  places  he 
was  found  at  the  hour  ready  to  commence  the  services. 
While  he  has  left  behind  him  a  character  for  remarka- 
ble gravity  in  his  deportment,  and  was  subject  to  occa- 
sional moods  of  despondency,  yet  he  was  gifted  with 
fine  conversational  powers,  and  frequently,  in  social 
intercourse  with  his  people,  he  would  throw  off  all  re- 
serve and  exhibit  a  mind  full  of  vivacity.  As  a  mem- 
ber of  church  judicatories  he  was  active,  and  always 
took  a  prominent  part  in  debate.  The  General  Synod 
of  our  church  elected  him  their  President  at  their  meet- 
ing in  Albany,  in  June,  1800.  It  is  said  that  his  assist- 
ance was  gi'eatly  sought  after  by  congregations  who 
were  vacant,  and  his  judicious  counsels  often  led  to 
the  amicable  adjustment  of  difficulties  which  were  be- 
ginning to  assume  formidable  proportions. 

He  gained  a  very  just  popularity  for  his  learning,  and 
while  he  was  laborious  as  a  pastor  he  did  not  neglect 
his  study.     The  minute  of  Classis,  referred  to  by  Mr. 

*For  a  list  of  church  members  made  at  the  commencement  of  his  minis- 
try, see  Appendix  lY. 


90  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

Corwin,  in  reference  to  the  necessary  suspension  of  the 
strict  examination  of  students  on  the  removal  of  Dr. 
Condict  by  death,  while  "  not  very  complimentary  to 
the  survivors,"  at  the  same  time  exhibits  the  estimation 
in  which  he  ^vas  held  as  a  scholar. 

Intimately  connected  with  the  history  of  our  church, 
at  the  period  now  under  review,  are  connected  the  re- 
moval of  the  Theological  Seminar}?-  to  this  city  and  the 
reorganization  of  the  College.  In  addition  to  his  labors 
as  the  pastor  of  the  church,  Dr.  Condict  took  a  deep 
interest  in  these  institutions,  and,  as  a  trustee  of  Queen's 
College,  by  his  personal  exertions  was  mainly  instru- 
mental in  its  partial  revival  in  1807.  An  endowment 
of  twenty  thousand  dollars  was  secured,  and  when  it 
again  went  into  operation,  after  having  been  suspended 
for  twelve  years,  he  was  chosen  Vice-President  and 
Professor  of  Moral  Philosophy.  The  building  in  which 
the  exercises  were  held  stood  near  the  site  of  the  Sec- 
ond Presbyterian  Church,  afterward  removed  to  Schure- 
man  street,  and  is  now  known  as  the  Lancasterian 
School.  The  college  owned  two"  acres  of  land  lying 
west  of  our  old  burying-ground,  which  property  was 
afterward  sold  and  the  funds  invested  in  the  erection 
of  the  present  edifice,  the  foundation  of  which  was  laid 
in  1809.  Dr.  Condict  had  removed  about  the  year 
1805  fromMilltowm,  and  resided  during  the  remainder 
of  his  pastorate  at  No.  32  Water  street.  The  number 
of  students  was  very  encouraging,  and  for  the  measure 
of  success  which  this  institution  then  enjoyed  it  is  in- 
debted largely  to  the  personal  labor  and  sacrifice  of  the 
pastor  of  this  church.  When  the  history  of  this  insti- 
tution shall  be  written,  it  Avill  be  found  that  to  him 
more  than  to  any  other  man  is  she  indebted  for  this 
noble  building,  standing  in  its  beautiful  location  as  an 


niSTOmCAL   DISCOUESE.  91 

ornament  to  our  city.  He  was  mainly  instrumental  in 
securing  from  Mr.  James  Parker,  by  gift,  the  lot  on 
wlncli  it  stands.  The  first  subscription  paper  for  the 
edifice  was  drawn  up  by  his  own  hand,  and  by  great 
perseverance  he  overcame  all  the  obstacles  thrown  m 
his  way,  and  some  time  before  his  death  he  had  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  the  building  rise  in  its  fine  pro- 
portions, and  his  eftbrts  crowned  with  com^Dlete  success. 
The  first  commencement,  under  this  new  impulse,  was 
held  in  October,  1809,  in  the  old  stone  church ;  and  in 
the  class  of  five  graduates  three  were  young  men  of  this 
cono^refratiou — Cornelius  L.  Hardenbero-h,  the  c:rand- 
son  of  the  former  pastor,  J.  M.  Van  Harlingen,  and  the 
valedictorian  of  the  day.  Dr.  William  Van  Deursen, 
who  is  present  with  us  on  this  occasion  with  a  memory 
reaching  back  to  the  college  scenes  of  fifty-eight  years 
ago. 

Connected  with  the  revival  of  the  College,  and  as  a 
part  of  the  plan,  was  the  removal  of  the  Theological 
Seminary  to  this  city,  in  the  year  1810,  at  which  time 
that  distinguished  professor,  Dr.  John  H.  Livingston, 
took  up  his  residence  here,  assuming  at  the  same  time 
the  Presidency  of  the  College.  It  is  to  the  honor  of 
our  denomination  that  she  organized  the  first  Theologi- 
cal Institution  in  our  land,  Dr.  Livins-ston  receivino;  his 
appointment  as  early  as  1781.  But  it  was  not  until 
the  year  1810  that  the  Seminary,  on  its  permanent  es- 
tablishment in  this  city,  started  on  a  career  of  prosper- 
ity which  has  made  it  a  fountain  of  life  for  the  church 
and  the  world.  The  institution  prospered  greatly  un- 
der the  labors  of  that  veneral:)le  man,  whom  the  church 
delighted  to  honor.  One  hundred  and  twenty  young 
men  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  his  instructions  in  their  pre- 
paration for  the  ministry.     And  it  would  hardly  be 


02  UISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

possible  to  set  boundaries  to  the  sphere  of  liis  influence. 
The  Seminary  in  his  clay  had  its  discouragements  and 
trials ;  but  it  has  passed  through  them  all,  and  with  the 
advance  of  years  it  is  more  than  ever  imbedded  in  the 
affections  of  the  whole  church. 

Dr.  Condict  was  greatly  favored  during  the  whole 
period  of  his  ministry  in  the  character  of  those  who 
labored  Avith  him  in  the  Gospel,  both  in  the  city  and 
surrounding  country.  In  the  Presbyterian  church  he 
was  associated  with  Dr.  Joseph  Clark,  (1797  to  1813,) 
a  man  of  eminent  ability,  remarkably  dignified  in-  his 
appearance,  and  greatly  esteemed  by  the  2')eople.  His 
sudden  death  created  a  great  sensation  through  the 
town.  The  text  for  his  Sabbath  morning  discourse 
was,  "The  time  is  short,"  and  on  the  following  Tues- 
day, retiring  to  rest  with  ordinary  health,  he  was  ar- 
rested by  the  hand  of  death  some  time  before  the  dawn 
of  morning.  In  the  Episcopal  church  we  find  tlie  Rev. 
John  Croes,  (1801  to  1832,)  afterward  the  Bishop  of 
New-Jersey,  characterized  as  "  the  watchful  pastor,  the 
instructive  2^i"eacher,  the  thoughtful  writer,  the  sound, 
well-read  divine."  Of  the  ministers  of  our  own  denom- 
ination, in  the  churches  surrounding  Ne\V-Brunswick, 
we  have,  at  Six  Mile  Run  and  Hillsborough,  (179G  to 
1807,)  a  young  man  of  great  j)romise,  and  afterward  of 
great  distinction.  Rev.  James  S.  Cannon.  At  the  old 
church  of  Mr.  Frelinghuysen,  at  North-Branch,  Rev. 
Dr.  Peter  Studiford  (1787  to  1826)  labored  Avith  all 
his  strength  until  God  called  him  home.  At  Raritan 
we  have  Rev.  John  S.  Vredenbergh,  (1800  to  1821,) 
one  of  the  gifted  young  men  of  our  own  church,  the 
son  of  a  prominent  elder,  whom  Dr.  Condict  had  him- 
self received  into  her  communion,  and  whom  he  re- 
joiced over  as  his  spiritual  offspring.    And  Rev.William 


niSTOEICAL   DISCOURSE.  93 

R  Smith,  (1794  to  1817,)  with  liis  colleague,  Eev. 
Henry  Polhemus,  at  Neshanic  and  Harlingen,  fills  up 
the  catalogue  of  those  who  labored  with  him  in  the 
Gospel  throughout  this  region. 

Under  the  efficient  labors  of  Dr.  Condict  the  church 
steadily  increased  in  strength,  and  with  the  growth  of 
the  population  enlarged  accommodations  were  again 
demanded.  For  two  years  the  cpiestion  was  agitated 
of  enlarging  the  old  building,  or  of  constructing  a  new 
edifice.  After  discussing  various  plans,  the  jDroject  of  a 
new  building  was  finally  adopted  with  great  harmony. 
An  efficient  building  committee  was  appointed  March 
11th,  1811,  consisting  of  Matthew  Egerton,  Staats  Van 
Deursen,  John  Clark,  John  D.  Van  Liew,  and  Michael 
Garrish.  The  arrangements  were  all  completed,  con- 
tracts were  entered  into  with  builders,  and  the  work 
was  going  forward  in  a  spirit  of  harmony  which  sel- 
dom marks  such  undertakings,  when  a  sudden  cloud 
rested  upon  the  whole  enterprise  in  the  unexpected 
death  of  the  beloved  Condict. 

The  old  stone  church  in  which  your  fathers  wor- 
shiped for  nearly  fifty  years,  and  which,  though  un- 
adorned, had  connected  with  it  so  many  precious  associa- 
tions, Avas  to  be  occupied  for  the  last  time  on  Sabbath, 
May  20th.  On  the  following  morning  the  work  of 
demolition  was  to  commence  preparatory  to  rebuilding. 
In  the  Providence  of  God  this  was  also  to  be  the  last 
sermon  which  Dr.  Condict  was  to  preach  previous  to  his 
departure.  As  if  in  anticipation  of  what  was  to  take 
place,  he  took  for  his  text  this  striking  passage  of  Scrip- 
ture from  Deut.  4 :  22,  23  :  "  But  I  must  die  in  this 
land,  I  must  not  go  over  Jordan :  but  ye  shall  go  over, 
and  possess  that  good  land.  Take  heed  unto  your- 
selves, lest  ye  forget  the  covenant  of  the  Lord  your 


94  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

Gocl,  wliicli  lie  made  "witli  3'ou,  and  make  you  a  graven 
image,  or  tlie  likeness  of  any  thing,  wliich  the  Lord  thy 
God  hath  forbidden  thee."  He  dwelt  with  particular 
emphasis  upon  keeping  God's  covenant,  and  the  touch- 
ing allusions  "which  he  made  to  the  old  sanctuary  made 
the  house  a  scene  of  weeping. 

On  Monday  the  workmen  commenced ;  the  bell  was 
taken  down  from  the  tower  and  the  pews  removed, 
when  on  Friday  the  word  was  circulated  that  Dr.  Con- 
diet  was  confined  to  his  house  by  sickness.  The  Sab- 
bath came,  and  he  was  unable  to  meet  his  people. 
During  the  early  part  of  the  "week  there  were  hopes  of 
his  recovery,  but  all  expectation  was  removed  as  early 
as  Wednesday,  when  the  announcement  was  made  that 
he  would  not  probal^ly  recover.  Dr.  Thomas  De  Witt, 
who  was  residing  in  his  family  pursuing  his  studies  in 
the  Seminary,  has  left  us  in  manuscri2;)t  a  record  of  the 
closing  scene. 

The  disease  which  terminated  in  his  death  was  very 
violent  from  its  commencement,  and  Dr.  Condict  him- 
self thought  that  it  would  prove  fatal.  While  he  mani- 
fested the  2,'reatest  resi2:nation  durino-  the  whole  of  his 
sickness,  toward  the  close  his  faith  amounted  to  rapture. 
Dr.  Livingston  visited  him  daily,  and  these  two  godly 
men,  the  one  on  the  bed  of  death,  the  other  in  the  ripe 
experience  of  age,  held  such  conversation  as  we  may 
suppose  that  the  saints  in  glory  enjoy.  In  the  early 
stages  of  the  disease,  he  was  exposed  to  great  spiritual 
conflicts  and  distress.  To  the  venerable  professor  he 
remarked :  "  I  have  been  much  harassed  and  disturbed  ; 
still  I  hope."  When  the  reply  was  made  that  it  was  a 
precious  exercise  of  faith  simply  to  wait  upon  the  Lord 
and  leave  the  event  with  him,  he  answered  :  "It  is  so, 
but  Jesus  must  give  the  grace."     And  that  grace  the 


■^v.^-v-^' 


REFOKMED    DUTCH    CHURCH,   NEW-BRUXSWICK.   N.  J. 
Krected  1767.     Taken  down  ISll. 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  95 

Saviour  did  bestow.  On  Wednesday,  (he  died  on 
Saturday  after  suffering  great  bodily  pain,)  he  said: 
"  Plow  s'ood  is  the  Lord  to  me  in  the  midst  of  afflictiou. 
I  can  say,  I  liave  "waited  for  thy  salvation.  O  Lord ;  it 
is  a  precious  salvation." 

On  Thursday  evening,  as  if  in  profound  meditation, 
he  used  this  language  :  "  I  know  Christ  died  for,  I 
know  he  can  keep,  and  will  keep  what  I  have  com- 
mitted to  him.  It  is  done,  it  is  all  sealecV  Observing 
some  one  at  his  bed-side,  he  added :  "  Ah !  I  am  talk- 

During  the  whole  of  Friday  night  his  death  was  an- 
ticipated at  any  moment.  At  one  o'clock  he  arose  in 
his  bed  and  spoke  in  these  words :  "  The  main  question 
with  us  all  is,  whether  we  are  willing  and  ready  to  die. 
It  is  now  ascertained  to  a  certainty  that  I  must  die.  I 
trust  that  I  am  sincerely  willing  to  die.  Heavenly 
Father !  into  thy  hands  I  commit  my  spirit,  and  I  pray 
for  that  grace  for  which  I  have  often  |)rayed  to  support 
me  in  the  trials  and  ao-onies  which  now  await  me." 
After  a  few  minutes  of  rest,  he  called  around  him  his 
family  for  the  farewell  blessing.  The  scene  was  like 
that  of  Jacob  parting  with  his  children.  To  his  son 
Harrison,  a  young  man  of  great  promise  who  soon  fol- 
lowed his  father,  he  said:  "My  son,  I  must  leave  you. 
Hitherto  I  have  been  your  teacher,  at  best  an  imperfect 
one.  You  shall  no  more  have  my  instructions ;  but  there 
is  the  word  of  God,  which  has  an  abundance  of  know- 
ledge and  grace.  The  Lord  has  given  to  you  reason, 
and  the  capacity  for  knowing  and  loving  him.  Let  that 
word  be  your  instructor,  and  you  will  experience  riches 
of  grace."  "  Fear  not,"  he  said  to  his  wife ;  "  yoit  have 
special  ])roinises.  As  for  our  children,  you  know  I 
have  often  committed  them  to  God."     To  one  of  the 


OG  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

elders  of  tlie  cliurcli  lie  spoke  words  of  counsel  and  en- 
couragement, and  sent  to  his  flock  a  message  of  great 
tenderness,  pointing  them  to  the  heavenly  Shepherd 
now  as  they  were  to  be  left  destitute.  He  is  now  at 
the  closing  moment ;  his  w^ork  is  done,  and  he  is  wait- 
ing for  the  Lord  to  call  him. 

Just  before  his  departure  occurred  a  most  remarka- 
ble scene,  equaling  any  thing  in  the  exjierience  of  God's 
people.  Dr.  Thomas  De  Witt  has  given  us  this  record : 
"  When  to  all  ajipearance  he  was  near  his  end,  to  our 
wonder  and  satisfaction  he  arose  in  his  bed,  observed 
the  great  necessity  of  prayer,  and  that  finding  the 
house  of  death  a  solemn  one,  requested  those  "who  were 
present  to  join  v.dtli  him.  He  then  made  a  most  pow- 
erful, solemn,  and  connected  prayer  of  about  four  min- 
utes. What  appeared  surprising  was  that  in  his  fee- 
ble condition  he  was  enabled  to  speak  so  long  without 
interruption.  It  appeared  as  if  the  Lord  had  given  him 
special  strength." 

He  died  on  Saturday,  June  1st,  1811,  at  eleven  o'clock. 
Thus  departed,  in  the  triumph  of  faith,  the  beloved  Con- 
diet.  The  next  Sabbath  was  a  gloomy  one  in  the  city. 
Many  of  the  people  from  the  country  came,  expecting 
to  hear  him  preach,  and  were  startled  with  the  intelli- 
irence  of  his  death.  His  funeral  was  attended  from  his 
residence  in  AVater  street.  Dr.  Livingston  making  the 
address,  and  the  clergy  of  the  city  acting  as  pall-bear- 
ers. The  bell  of  the  Episcopal  church  was  tolled 
during  the  services,  and  all  the  places  of  business  in 
the  city  were  closed.  When  arrived  at  the  grave,  it 
seemed  as  if  the  whole  population  of  JSTew-Brunswick 
and  surrounding  country  was  crowded  into  the  inclo- 
sure.  A  few  words  were  again  spoken  by  the  venera- 
ble Professor  to  the  weeping  people,  and  beneath  the 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  97 

walls  of  tlie  old  cliurcb  iu  wliicli  lie  Lad  preaclied  for 
seventeen  years,  now  in  process  of  demolition,  lie  was 
buried.  To  the  left  of  the  pulpit,  not  far  from  tlie 
grave  of  his  predecessor,  Dr.  Jacob  E>.  Hardenbergli, 
will  be  seen  the  monument  erected  by  the  congregation 
to  the  memory  of  one  of  their  most  devoted  ministers. 

He  is  rej)resented  to  have  been  a  tall,  muscular  man, 
with  black  hair,  of  prominent  features,  very  grave  in 
his  deportment,  and  a  man  of  undoubted  piety.  It  is 
not  probable  that  in  the  whole  list  of  pastors  there 
was  one  more  affectionately  regarded  than  the  man 
whom  every  one  esteemed  as  the  "  beloved  Condict." 
He  seemed  to  walk  these  streets  as  a  stranger,  and  any 
one  who  saw  him  would  be  impressed  with  his  striking 
countenance  and  demeanor.  Some  of  you  will  remem- 
ber his  sedateness  of  appearance,  and  not  one  who  ever 
heard  him  in  prayer  will  forget  the  unction  and  spiritu- 
ality of  his  devotions.  In  social  intercourse  he  was 
affable,  cheerful,  and  gave  to  every  one  the  impression 
that  he  had  a  warm  and  affectionate  heart.  He  was 
honored  and  welcomed  beyond  the  limits  of  his  own 
extensive  charge.  Other  societies  recognized  in  him  a 
tnie-hearted  minister  of  Christ,  and  among  the  people 
in  city  and  country  he  had  hosts  of  friends.  With  Dr. 
Clark  he  was  on  terms  of  particular  intimacy,  frequently 
exchanging  pulpits  and  visits,  and  forming  united  plans 
for  systematic  labor.  In  his  arrangements  he  was  exact, 
and  had  for  every  department  of  labor  a  fixed  time  and 
method.  No  man  could  have  accomplished  more  than 
he  did,  and  the  secret  of  his  efficiency  lay  in  the  wisdom 
of  his  plans.  Public  institutions  honored  themselves 
by  placing  his  name  on  their  catalogues.  The  corjDora- 
tion  of  Princeton  College  elected  him  a  member  of  their 
1 


98  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

board  in  1804,  having  previously  bestowed  upon  liim 
the  title  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 

As  a  preacher  he  was  always  excellent,  dwelling 
with  particular  emphasis  upon  God's  covenant.  In- 
deed, this  was  his  life-work,  for  he  felt  that  God  had 
set  him  apart  in  order  that  he  might  preach  the  Gospel. 
Althou2:h  the  hand  of  death  has  removed  almost  the 
entire  number  of  those  who  sat  under  his  ministry,  yet 
I  am  happy  to  have  rescued  sufficient  facts  to  recall,  in 
part  at  least,  a  just  portrait  of  the  man.  He  wore  in 
the  pulpit  the  gown  and  cassock,  and  his  very  appear- 
ance was  dignified  and  solemn ;  not  a  solemnity  that 
repelled,  but  which  was  becoming  in  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel.  He  distrusted  very  much  his  own  abilities, 
and  was  occasionally  depressed  in  mind  to  such  a  degree 
that  he  felt  scarcely  fitted  to  enter  the  pulpit.  He 
would  often  stop,  on  his  way  up  the  aisle  of  the  church, 
at  the  j)ew  of  Jufvrow  Hardenbergh,  for  a  word  of  com- 
fort or  encouragement,  which  she  was  always  sure  to 
have  ready  for  him.  It  ^vould  not  be  correct  to  affirm  of 
him  that  he  was  gifted  with  the  power  of  oratory,  for 
this  he  did  not  possess ;  nor  with  any  singular  original- 
ity of  thought  or  forms  of  expression,  for  this  he  did  not 
cultivate  or  covet ;  nor  with  any  brilliancy  of  imagina- 
tion and  vivid  paintings  of  truth,  for  he  was  too  intent 
upon  the  single  purpose  of  preaching  Christ  to  be  led 
away  by  any  outward  display.  His  strength  lay  rather 
in  his  powerful  conviction  of  the  truth  which  he 
preached;  in  his  intense  earnestness  of  soul,  driving 
him  on  as  if  he  had  a  great  work  to  do  for  his  Master; 
in  his  deep  sympathy  with  his  hearers,  which  wrought 
within  all  souls  the  conviction  that  he  souo;ht  their 
good ;  in  a  life  so  consistent  that  he  had  not  to  over- 
come any  unfavorable  prejudice,  for  they  felt  that  he 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  99 

was  speaking  out  of  an  honest  heart ;  and  in  a  single- 
ness of  aim  which  held  him  in  close  contact  with  the 
cross.  The  death  of  a  lovely  daughter,  Ruth,  in  the 
opening  flower  of  her  beauty,  struck  all  hearts  with 
great  sur2:)rise  and  sorrow,  affected  him  very  deeply, 
and  it  is  said  that  he  went  into  the  pulpit  on  the  fol- 
lowing Sabbath  and  delivered  a  most  tender,  earnest, 
and  j^owerfiil  message  from  God  to  the  young,  and 
ever  afterward  his  soul  more  than  ever  seemed  to  be 
given  to  the  cause  of  Christ. 

He  had  a  great  aversion  to  appear  in  print,  and 
although  he  was  frequently  requested  to  give  his  ser- 
mons to  the  Consistory  for  publication,  yet  he  uni- 
formly declined  so  doing.  The  only  production  of  his 
pen  that  I  have  seen  is  a  sermon  preached  before  our 
citizens  on  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  George  Wash- 
ington, by  the  invitation  of  the  Mayor  and  Common 
Council,  and  published  under  their  direction.  If  this 
is  a  sj^ecimen  of  his  pulpit  abilities,  we  can  readily 
account  for  his  extensive  popularity.  I  am  pleased  ta 
add  a  few  sentences  from  the  short  obituary  notice 
"svhich  appeared  in  the  Guardian^  or  New-Brunsioick 
Advertiser,  the  week  succeedins^  his  death :  "  He  was 
learned  and  pious,  with  a  discriminating  mind  and 
sound  judgment.  He  believed  the  doctrines  of  grace, 
and  preached  them  with  precision  and  zeal.  Amiable 
in  his  temper,  humble,  prudent,  and  without  guile  in 
his  conversation,  he  gained  the  love  and  possessed  the 
confidence  of  all  who  knew  him.  His  time  and  talents 
were  devoted  to  the  cause  of  the  Divine  Redeemer,  and 
his  exertions  in  preaching,  visiting,  and  catechising, 
throughout  his  extensive  parochial  districts,  were  ar- 
duous and  unremitted.  Dr.  Condict  was  also  Vice- 
President  of  Queen's  College,  and  had,  besides  other 


100  HISTOEICAL  DISCOURSE. 

academical  duties,  the  principal  cliarge  of  the  senior 
class.  The  labors  attached  to  this  station,  in  addition 
to  his  ministerial  cares,  proved  too  severe ;  they  gradu- 
ally exhausted  his  strength,  and  a  severe  attack  of 
pneumonia  terminated  in  the  death  of  one  of  the  first 
characters  in  the  church."  He  died  in  the  forty-eighth 
year  of  his  age,  and  in  the  twenty-fifth  of  his  ministry, 
seventeen  of  which  had  been  given  to  this  congregation. 
His  son,  Daniel  Harrison,  whom  he  addressed  so  aftec- 
tionately  on  his  death-bed,  soon  followed  his  father, 
dying  August  28th,  and  was  buried  by  the  side  of  his 
honored  parent.  His  beloved  wife,  after  surviving  her 
husband  many  years,  a  woman  of  sweet  and  amiable 
temper,  and  of  an  intelligent  i:)iety,  was  brought  from 
the  residence  of  her  daughter  in  Newark,  and  "  laid  in 
the  se]3ulchre  in  the  full  exercise  of  a  holy  faith  that 
she  would  rise  again." 

The  church  had  now  been  in  existence  ninety-four 
years,  and  Dr.  Condict  was  the  fourth  pastor.  They 
had  all  died  while  ministers  of  this  church,  and  their 
graves  are  with  us  unto  this  day,  a  beautiful  exhibition 
of  the  permanence  of  the  j)astoral  relation,  and  of  the 
affection  existing  between  minister  and  people. 

The  church  at  this  date  was  very  much  disheartened; 
with  the  loss  of  their  pastor  in  the  midst  of  rebuilding 
their  church  edifice,  they  felt  that  all  was  gone.  But 
Dr.  Livingston,  by  his  counsel  and  encom'agement,  gave 
them  new  strength.  He  visited  the  sick,  occupied  the 
pulpit  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  the  service  of  this 
congregation  in  the  afternoon,  and  stood  in  the  place  of 
a  pastor  for  nearly  two  years.  In  the  mean  time  the 
work  of  building  went  on,  the  jmncipal  amount  of  the 
labor  falling  upon  two  members  of  the  committee,  John 
Clark  and  Staats  Van  Deursen.     The  corner-stone  was 


HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE.  101 

laid  witli  appropriate  ceremonies  July  Gtli,  1811.  The 
building  was  completed  and  occupied  for  tlie  first  time 
September  2Ytli,  1812.  The  dedication  sermon  was 
preached  by  Dr.  Livingston,  from  Ezekiel  43:12:  "  This 
is  the  law  of  the  liouse :  Upon  the  top  of  tlie  mountain 
the  whole  limit  thereof  round  about  shall  be  most  holy. 
Behold,  this  is  the  law  of  the  house."  The  pews  were 
sold  on  the  fifth  of  the  following  January.  So  satisfac- 
tory was  the  whole  arrangement,  and  witli  such,  care 
were  the  funds  managed,  that,  on  the  final  report  of  the 
committee  to  Consistory,  they  gave  over  the  building 
into  their  hands  free  of  debt,  and,  out  of  compliment, 
were  presented  with  one  of  the  square  pews.  The  cost 
of  the  building  was  $16,415.  The  edifice  w^as  at  that 
time  one  of  the  largest  in  the  State,  and  is  now  the 
most  commodious  house  of  worship  in  the  city.  Its 
dimensions  are  ninety-four  feet  in  length,  including  the 
tower,  which  projects  four  feet,  and  sixty-six  feet  in 
breadth,  and  will  comfortably  seat  eleven  hundred  wor- 
shipers. This  building  will  always  attract  attention, 
on  account  of  its  noble  proi^ortions  and  commanding 
situation,  as  well  as  from  the  interesting  associations 
which  it  awakens.  Since  its  erection,  all  the  Presidents 
of  our  College  have  here  been  inaugurated,  and  the 
Professors  of  our  Seminary,  with  only  a  single  excep- 
tion, have  here  been  inducted  into  office.  Until  re- 
cently all  the  commencement  exercises  have  been  lield 
in  this  edifice,  and  hundreds  of  young  men  have  looked 
upon  it  as  the  scene  of  their  collegiate  honors.  It  has 
stood  for  more  than  half  a  century  in  its  massive  pro 
portions,  testifying  to  the  integrity  of  the  builders  and 
the  watchfulness  of  the  committee.  It  has  been  twice 
remodeled — in  1847,  by  lowering  the  galleries,  and  erect- 
ing a  new  pulpit,  and  in  1862  by  reseating  and  furnish 
ing  the  entire  edifice. 


102  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

But,  while  the  work  of  building  was  going  on,  the 
Consistory  was  not  negligent  of  the  great,  want  of  the 
church — a  pastor.  Negotiations  were  carried  on  with 
the  trustees  for  two  years  to  settle  two  ministers,  who 
should  hold  the  joint  pastorate  of  the  church  and  pro- 
fessorships in  the  College.  But  the  plan  was  finally 
abandoned,  and  on  May  25th,  1812,  an  urgent  call  was 
extended  to  the  fifth  pastor, 

EEV.    JOHN   SCHTJKEMAjSr,    D.D. 

This  was  a  happy  selection,  and  very  pleasing  to  the 
whole  congregation.  He  was  one  of  their  own  sons,  a 
great  favorite,  and  universally  esteemed.  His  ancestors 
had  been  active  members  of  this  church  for  more  than 
ninety  years,  and  were  distinguished  for  their  piety 
and  influence.  His  father  was  Hon.  James  Schureman, 
the  patriot  of  the  Kevolution,  and  at  this  time  was  a 
prominent  member  of  the  congregation ;  and  his  mother 
was  a  descendant  of  the  Schuyler  ftimily,  who  came  to 
this  town  from  Albany  at  its  early  settlement.  His 
grandfather  was  Hon.  John  Schureman,  after  whom  he 
was  named,  a  merchant  of  this  city,  and  frequently 
representing  this  district  in  the  State  Legislature — who 
was  the  son  of  Jacobus  Schureman,  the  schoolmaster, 
who  came  from  Holland  with  Mr.  Frelinghuysen  in 
1*720,  with  whom  he  diligently  cooperated  in  the  good 
work  of  building  up  the  interests  of  the  Redeemer's 
kino:dom  in  this  favored  section  of  the  church. 

Dr.  Schureman  was  born  October  19th,  1778,  near 
New-Brunswick,  to  which  place  his  parents  had  resort- 
ed during  the  occupation  of  the  city  by  the  British 
army  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  His  religious 
exercises  commenced  in  very  early  life,  and  when  a 


HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE.  103 

mere  youtli  he  was  often  observed  in  the  devout  study 
of  the  Scriptures  and  prayer.  In  consequence  of  the 
absence  of  his  father  in  the  public  service  of  the  coun- 
try, his  education  devolved  principally  upon  his  aged 
grandfather,  to  whom  he  was  much  indebted  for  a 
sound  religious  training.  Young  Schureman  displayed 
quite  early  those  traits  of  character  which  shone  so 
brightly  through  his  whole  life.  He  was  cheerful  and 
amiable  in  his  disposition,  affectionate  and  dutiful  to 
his  superiors,  kind  in  his  intercourse  with  his  compa- 
nions, and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was 
received  into  the  membership  of  this  church  on  profes- 
sion of  his  faith,  under  the  ministry  of  Dr.  Condict,  at 
the  communion  in  April,  1797.  That  he  was  apt  to 
learn  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  of  his  completing 
his  literary  course  before  he  had  finished  his  seven- 
teenth year,  graduating  from  Queen's  College  Septem: 
ber  30th,  1795.  After  studying  theology  with  Dr.  Liv- 
ino-ston  he  was  licensed  in  1800.  His  first  sermon  was 
preached  in  the  old  church  for  Dr.  Condict,  and  he  at 
once  gave  promise  of  the  solid,  judicious  minister  which 
his  subsequent  life  confirmed.  His  successive  fields  of 
labor  were  at  Bedminster  for  six  years,  at  Millstone  for 
two  and  a  half  years,  and  in  the  Collegiate  Church  of 
New- York  for  two  years.  In  the  latter  charge  his 
health  soon  failed,  and  he  came  to  New-Brunswick,  suc- 
ceeding Dr.  Condict  as  Vice-President  of  the  College. 
But  this  institution  was  in  a  very  depressed  condition, 
and,  in  consequence  of  the  exhausted  state  of  its  funds 
and  other  unfavorable  circumstances,  with  all  his  dili- 
gence and  ardor  he  was  not  able  to  restore  it  to  its 
former  honorable  position.  His  love  for  the  pulpit, 
and  his  recovered  health,  secured  by  rest  from  public 
speaking,  induced  him  to  listen  to  an  urgent  call  from 


10  J:  HISTORICAL  DISCOUESE. 

this  cliurcli,  and  lie  was  installed  early  in  January,  1813. 
But  the  flattering  prospects  of  usefulness  which  now 
opened  before  him  were  speedily  disappointed ;  he  soon 
found  that  his  cherished  wish  to  preach  the  Gospel  was 
to  be  denied  him,  and  in  June  of  the  same  year  he 
resigned  his  charge,  and,  in  consequence  of  frequent 
hemorrhages  of  the  lungs,  he  very  seldom  after  this 
entered  the  jmlpit. 

The  disappointment  of  the  people  was  very  great. 
He  "was  a  finished  scholar  and  a  Christian  gentleman. 
That  this  church  was  attached  to  him  may  be  seen  in 
the  fact  that  he  had  been  unanimously  called  as  a  col- 
league with  Dr.  Condict  in  1809,  that  he  might  devote 
more  of  his  attention  to  the  college,  which  call  he  de- 
clined in  order  to  accept  the  invitation  from  New- 
York  ;  and,  while  the  actual  pastor  of  this  church,  they 
not  only  relieved  him  of  much  of  the  burden  of  the 
ministry,  but  importuned  him  to  remain  in  his  official 
connection  with  the  congregation,  in  hopes  that  a  return 
of  health  would  enable  him  to  assume  the  full  duties  of 
a  pastor.  And  they  had  reason  to  love  him,  for  he  was 
truly  one  of  the  excellent  of  the  earth.  In  his  subsequent 
intercourse  with  the  people  he  was  a  most  judicious 
and  kind  counselor,  and  his  influence  went  far  toward 
healing  the  unhapj^y  division  which  arose  during  the 
ministry  of  his  successor.  Few  men  understood  human 
nature  better  than  he  did,  and  no  man  could  have  been 
possessed  of  a  heart  more  affectionate.  As  a  preacher, 
he  was  sound  in  the  faith,  clear  in  his  method  of  ar- 
rangement, simple  and  concise  in  his  style,  earnest  and 
impressive  in  his  delivery,  tender  in  the  very  tones  of 
his  voice,  not  frequent  but  appropriate  in  his  gesticula- 
tion, and  would  leave  upon  the  minds  of  his  hearers 
the  impression  that  he  had  in  his  own  soul  a  deep  con- 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  105 

viction  of  tlie  trutli  tliat  lie  uttered,  and  was  pervaded 
by  an  earnest  desire  that  tliey  should  receive  ^^rofit 
under  liis  ministrations.  That  he  did  not  arrest  the 
attention  by  any  bold  and  striking  figures,  or  move  his 
hearers  by  pathetic  appeals  to  the  passions,  was  un- 
doubtedly true ;  but  he  won  his  way  to  the  heart  by 
preaching  Christ  in  a  method  so  distinct,  and  with  a 
manner  so  fervid,  that  it  is  no  wonder  that  he  became 
one  of  the  most  useful  and  popular  ministers  of  his  day. 
One  of  our  ministers'""  writes :  "  He  was  my  heau  ideal 
of  a  man,  a  minister,  and  a  preacher.  Well  do  I  re- 
member how  he  charmed  my  heart  by  his  solemnity 
and  suavity."  Another,f  who  knew  him  well,  remarks : 
"  I  may  be  thought  to  exaggerate  his  merits,  but  it  is 
difficult  to  hold  the  pencil  steadily  when  portraying  a 
man  so  uncommonly  amiable.  You  loved  him  even 
upon  a  first  interview,  and  you  could  not  withhold  your 
love  after  it  was  bestowed.  It  seems  but  as  yesterday," 
he  adds,  "when  the  venerable  Dr.  Living-ston,  in  an 
address  at  the  funeral  of  the  deceased  junior  professor, 
turning  to  the  theological  students,  said,  '  My  children, 
you  will  not,  you  can  not  forget  your  dear  Scliureman^  " 
After  his  resignation  of  the  pastorate  of  this  church 
he  was  elected,  October,  1815,  a  Professor  of  Ecclesias- 
tical History  and  Pastoral  Theology  in  the  Seminary, 
and  died  in  that  office  May  15th,  1818.  His  grave  is  in 
the  yard  near  that  of  Dr.  Condict,  the  fifth  of  your 
deceased  pastors,  beneath  a  monument  erected  by  Gen- 
eral Synod.  At  a  meeting  of  that  body,  a  short  time 
after  his  death,  the  sentiments  of  the  whole  church 
were  expressed  in  the  following  action :  "  The  death  of 
the  late  professor,  Dr.  John  Schureman,  is  an  event 

*  Dr.  I.  N.  Wyckoflf.  f  Dr.  Gabriel  Ludlow. 


106  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

wbich,  however  it  may  have  been  his  incalculable  gain, 
is  deeply  to  be  deplored  by  us.  So  amiable  were  his 
manners,  so  undoubted  his  piety,  so  acceptable  his  ser- 
vices, and.  so  flattering  were  his  prospects  as  to  his  use- 
fulness in  the  church,  that  we  can  not  but  mourn  that 
such  a  man  is  removed  from  our  institution."  It  was 
also  provided  that  a  plain  tombstone  l)e  erected  over 
his  grave,  with  a  suitable  inscription  declaring  the  im- 
portant station  he  occupied  in  the  church,  and  the 
esteem  which  this  body  will  long  cherish  for  one  whose 
praise  was  in  all  the  churches. 

The  resignation  of  Dr.  Schureman  was  followed  by  a 
short  vacancy.  October  2d,  1813,  the  church,  with 
great  unanimity,  called,  as  the  sixth  pastor, 

EEV.    JESSE   FONDA. 

He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Watervliet,  Albany 
county,  K  Y.,  April  SYth,  1786.  He  made  a  profes- 
sion of  his  faith  in  the  Reformed.  Dutch  Church  of  the 
Boght,  and  graduated  from  Union  College,  in  1806,  in 
the  same  class  with  Dr.  C.  C  Cuyler  and  the  Hon.  John 
C.  Spencer.  His  theological  studies  were  pursued  un- 
der the  direction  of  ministers  of  our  church,  and  he 
was  licensed  by  the  North  Consociation  of  Hartford 
County.  His  first  settlement  w^as  at  Nassau,  N.  Y., 
where  he  labored  with  all  the  enthusiasm  of  a  young 
pastor,  and  in  which  place  his  ministry  is  still  remem- 
bered as  one  of  great  prosperity  and  usefulness.  He 
removed  to  this  city  and  commenced  his  labors  in  the 
month  of  November. 

This  church  had  suffered  much  for  the  want  of  pastoral 
supervision,  Dr.  Schureman's  feeble  health  having  pre- 
vented him  from  doing  much  active  work  in  the  congre- 


HISTOEICAL  DISCOUESE.  107 

gatioD.  Mr.  Fonda  found  a  large  amount  of  labor  upon 
bis  hands,  and,  blessed  with  a  vigorous  constitution  and 
great  energy  of  character,  he  gave  himself  fully  to  this 
ministry.  He  was  systematic  in  his  labors  and  intense- 
ly active.  About  this  time  an  unhappy  controversy 
commenced  in  the  church  in  reference  to  the  hour  for 
holding  the  afternoon  service  on  the  Sabbath,  which 
continued  to  disturb  the  peace  of  the  church  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  and  was  the  ultimate  ground  of  his  remo- 
val. The  pastor  and  city  portion  of  the  charge  desired  a 
change  to  three  o'clock,  but  the  more  distant  members 
of  the  congregation  were  in  favor  of  the  plan  which 
had  been  the  established  usage  of  the  church.  At  one 
time  the  difficulty  had  grown  to  such  proportions  that 
the  plan  of  a  new  organization  was  proposed.  The 
matter  in  controversy  was  carried  before  Classis,  who 
recommended,  through  a  committee,  the  formation  of 
two  new  churches,  one  to  be  located  at  Three  Mile  Run, 
the  second  at  Milltown  or  on  George's  road.  It  would, 
no  doubt,  have  been  to  the  interest  of  the  denomina- 
tion had  this  plan  been  carried  out,  and  these  churches 
organized  in  a  spirit  of  harmony  and  with  a  desire  to 
extend  the  Redeemer's  kingdom. 

But  the  existence  of  this  controversy  was  not  so 
absorbing  as  to  divert  the  attention  from  spiritual  in- 
terests. During  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Fonda  there  was 
a  healthy  growth  of  the  church,  and  at  one  communion 
twenty-eight  ]:)ersons  made  a  public  profession  of  their 
faith.  The  total  number  of  communicants  received  into 
the  church  was  one  hundred  and  seven. 

Mr.  Fonda  was  dismissed  from  this  congregation  July 
3d,  1817,  in  order  that  he  might  accept  a  call  from  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church,  of  Montgomery — at  that  time, 
as  at  present,  one  of  the  most  intelligent  and  flourish- 


108  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

ing  congregations  in  onr  body.  He  preaclied  his  last 
sermon  on  the  28th  of  the  month  from  tlie  text,  "  Cast- 
ing all  your  care  npou  him,  for  he  careth  for  you."  By 
request  of  his  numerous  friends  the  sermon  was  pub- 
lished, and  it  exhibits,  with  great  tenderness,  the  doc- 
trine of  "confidence  in  God  in  the  day  of  trouble."  It 
is  inscribed  to  his  personal  friends  Drs.  Livingston  and 
Schureman,  and  to  the  reverend  clergy  of  New-Bruns- 
wick, "  brethren  who  dwell  together  in  unity." 

Mr.  Fonda  continued  at  Montgomery  in  the  faithful 
discharge  of  his  duties  until  his  death  in  1827.  Few 
ministers  excelled  him  as  a  preacher.  He  had  a  full, 
sonorous  voice,  ^vell  modulated,  and  would  draw  atten- 
tion by  the  pleasantness  of  his  countenance.  He  pre- 
pared his  sermons  with  great  care,  waiting  them  out  in 
full  and  then  preaching  from  memory.  He  never 
paused  for  a  word,  but  carried  his  hearers  along  in  a 
train  of  rapid  argument  or  pungent  appeal  to  the  close 
of  his  discourse.  Dr.  Livingston  regarded  him  as  one 
of  our  most  finished  ministers.  It  is  said  that  he 
greatly  excelled  on  extraordinary  occasions.  His  min- 
istry occupied  the  important  period  of  our  last  war 
with  England.  The  public  mind  in  this  section  of  the 
country  was  intensely  agitated,  and  seizing  hold  of 
these  important  national  occurrences  he  enforced  with 
great  power  the  lessons  of  religion  as  taught  by  "  the 
signs  of  the  times."  His  sermon,  preached  April  13  th, 
1815,  on  the  occasion  of  the  close  of  the  conflict,  enti- 
tled "  Thanksgiving  for  Peace,"  produced  a  wonderful 
sensation.  This  lar^e  buildiuo-  was  crowded  to  its  ut- 
most  capacity,  while  he  discoursed  with  great  eloquence 
upon  the  passage,  "  Sing,  O  daughter  of  Zion ;  shout, 
O  Israel;    be  glad  and  rejoice  with  all  the  heart,  O 


niSTOEICAL   DISCOURSE.  109 

daughter  of  Jerusalem.     Tlie  Lord  Latli  taken  away 
thy  judgments."     (Zephaniah  3:14,  15.) 

In  1814,  Mr.  Fonda  was  chosen  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  Queen's  College ;  and  at  the  an- 
nual meeting  of  General  Synod  in  Albany,  June,  1823, 
he  was  chosen  the  President  of  that  body.  He  has  left, 
in  his  work  on  the  Sacraments,  a  very  fair  reputation 
for  authorship,  which  deserves  to  be  reproduced  from 
the  press  and  given  a  wide  circulation. 

Mr.  Fonda  left  here  in  the  summer  of  1817.  In  the 
graduating  class  of  that  year  there  was  a  young  man 
a  member  of  this  church,  of  fine  abilities  and  of  great 
promise,  to  whom  all  eyes  were  immediately  directed. 
It  was  not  necessary  for  him  to  preach  as  a  candidate, 
for  every  one  knew  him,  and  so  urgent  was  the  Consis- 
tory that,  even  before  he  received  his  license,  a  commit- 
tee waited  upon  him  with  an  informal  presentation  of 
a  call.  This  student,  who  became  the  next  pastor  of 
the  church  of  New-Brunswick,  was 


EEV.    JOnN   LUDLOW,  D.D. 

His  calls  bears  the  date  of  September  17th,  1817, 
fifty  years  ago.  The  first  invitation  he  declined,  but 
on  its  renewal  he  accej^ted  the  charge  with  the  under- 
standing that  he  was  not  expected  to  preach  but  once 
on  the  Sabbath  during  the  first  year,  and  be  released  from 
all  pastoral  labor.  It  is  said  that  he  broke  through 
these  conditions  almost  immediately,  for  he  was  a  faith- 
ful pastor,  and  in  the  pulpit  a  Boanerges.  Some  of 
you  remember  him  as  he  appeared  when  he  first  came 
among  you,  and  the  interest  that  was  awakened  in  the 
church  by  having  for  their  pastor  a  young  man  fresh 


110  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

from  our  Theological  Semiuaiy.  His  ministiy,  however, 
was  short.  Only  two  years  after  liis  settlement  lie  re- 
ceived an  appointment  to  a  j^rofessorship  in  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  whicli  lie  felt  constrained  to  accept, 
and  was  accordingly  released  from  his  pastoral  charge. 

His  character  and  history  are  well  understood  in  this 
community,  where  the  last  years  of  his  life  were  spent 
in  the  education  of  young  men  for  the  ministry.  After 
spending  four  years  as  professor  under  his  first  appoint- 
ment by  General  Synod,  he  returned  to  the  pulpit,  for 
which  he  had  special  cpialifications,  and  Avas  for  eleven 
years  the  pastor  of  the  North  Church  of  Albany,  at 
that  time,  as  at  present,  the  first  in  position  and  influ- 
ence in  the  Synod  of  Albany.  In  1834,  he  accepted  the 
position  of  Provost  in  the  University  of  the  City  of  Phil- 
adelphia, which  office  he  held  for  eighteen  years ;  and 
only  resigned  that  he  might  obey  the  will  of  the  Gen- 
eral Synod  in  his  election  to  the  Professorship  of  Eccle- 
siastical History,  Pastoral  Theology,  and  Church  His- 
tory in  our  Seminary,  succeeding  the  venerable  Pro- 
fessor Cannon,  which  position  he  filled  with  great  ability 
until  his  death,  September  8th,  1857.  His  grave  is 
among  the  group  of  pastors  and  professors  in  the  yard 
at  the  left  of  the  pulpit. 

Dr.  Ludlow,  as  a  man,  a  minister,  and  a  Christian, 
was  universally  esteemed.  The  confidence  which  was 
reposed  in  him  by  the  church  is  sufficiently  indicated 
by  his  election  at  five  different  periods  to  professorships 
in  our  institutions.  In  the  Northern  Synod  no  minister 
exerted  so  wide  an  influence.  If  a  church  building 
was  to  be  dedicated,  or  a  corner-stone  laid,  or  an  in- 
stallation sermon  preached,  the  services  of  Dr.  Ludlow 
were  solicited.  In  his  early  ministry  in  this  church  he 
developed  rapidly,  and  soon  exhibited  all  those  traits  of 


niSTOEICAL   DISCOURSE.  Ill 

Character  wLicli  distinguislied  him  in  after-life.  Says 
one  of  his  early  students :  "  We  loved  him  as  a  preacher. 
He  elucidated  his  texts  fairly,  strongly,  with  dignity,  and 
as  one  ever  under  a  sense  of  God's  requirements.  His 
subjects  were  rich  and  diversified.  He  loved  what  he 
used  to  call  a  good  fat  text,  one  full  of  Gospel  truth 
and  beariuo"  on  men's  hearts  and  conscience."  His 
brother  remarks  that  "his  strength  as  a  preacher  lay 
very  much  in  his  manner  /  in  the  fire  of  his  eye ;  in 
the  expression  of  his  countenance — an  expression  very 
varied  and  corresponding  very  fully  with  his  varied 
emotions ;  in  the  stentorian  tones  of  his  voice — a  voice 
that  easily  filled  the  largest  buildings ;  in  his  strong  and 
well-placed  emphasis;  in  his  forcible  gesticulation;  in 
his  positive,  authoritative,  confident  manner."  A  most 
admirable  analysis  of  his  character  was  given  by  Dr. 
Bethune,  who  knew  him  well.  Based  on  the  thought 
that  his  leading  quality  was  strength,  he  presents  Dr. 
Ludlow  as  a  man,  "  strong  in  person,  strong  in  voice, 
strong  in  intellect,  strong  in  will,  strong  in  affections." 

His  activity  in  carrying  forward  all  the  great  mea- 
sures of  our  church  is  deserving  of  high  praise.  And 
the  noble  result  of  his  last  labors  for  the  church  he 
loved — the  Theological  Hall — stands  before  us  to-day  as 
a  monument  to  his  memory.  All  those  traits  of  cha- 
racter which  distinguished  him  in  after-life  he  disj)layed 
at  the  commencement  of  his  ministry,  and  while  he  was 
yet  the  pastor  of  this  church.  And  it  is  not  surpris- 
ing that  they  yielded  to  the  will  of  General  Synod 
with  extreme  reluctance,  and  "  a  general  murmur  arose 
through  the  congregation  not  easily  or  soon  hushed." 

The  resignation  of  Dr.  Ludlow  left  this  church  va- 
cant for  the  third  time  in  the  short  space  of  six  years. 
E-ev.  GTabriel  Ludlow,  the  brother  of  the  late  pastor, 


112  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE, 

was  now  called,  but  declined  tlie  invitation.  The  -pul- 
pit  was  supplied  by  the  professors  in  the  Seminary  for 
about  one  year,  during  which  period  the  attention  of 
the  Consistory  was  directed  to  another  young  student, 
who  graduated  from  the  institution  in  the  first  class 
under  the  instruction  of  their  former  minister  ;  and 
on  January  21st,  1821,  there  was  called,  as  the  eighth 
pastor  of  this  church, 

EEV.    ISAAC   TEEKIS,    D.D. 

Dr.  Ferris  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church  on  the 
third  Thursday  in  April,  1821.  Early  in  May,  Kev. 
Samuel  B.  How,  D.D.,  commenced  his  labors  in  the 
Presbyterian  church,  of  which  he  was  installed  the  pas- 
tor the  13th  of  June.'^-  April  13th,  Eev.  G.  S.  Webb, 
D.D.,  became  the  minister  of  the  Baptist  church.  It  is 
a  striking  coincident  that  these  three  New-Brunswick 
pastoi*s,  all  in  early  manhood,  entered  upon  their  work 
in  this  city  the  same  spring,  and  it  is  not  necessary  to 
remark  that  the  intimate  relation  then  formed  has  con- 
tinued unbroken  until  the  present.  It  is  a  pleasing 
feature  of  our  anniversary  that  these  servants  of  the 
Lord  are  all  still  livinsf,  with  memories  reachino;  back 
to  their  labors  in  this  city.  Two  have  theii'  homes 
with  us,  spending  the  close  of  life  among  the  people 
to  whom  they  ministered  for  near  a  generation,  and  the 
other  is  in   the   discharge  of  active  duties.     As  the 

*  The  following  have  been  pastors  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  : 
Kev.  Gilbert  Tennent,  (1726-'43;)  Rev.  Thomas  Arthur,  (?)  (1746-'51 ;) 
Rev.  Israel  Reed,  (17fi8-'86;)  Rev.  Walter  Monteith,  (1786-'9-i ;)  Rev. 
Joseph  Clark,  D.D.,  (1797-1813;)  Rev.  Levi  J.  T.  Huntington,  1815-20; 
Rev.  Samuel  B.  How,  D.D.,  (1821-'23;)  Rev.  Joseph  H.  Jones,  D.D., 
(1825-'38;)  Rev.  Robert  Birch,  (1839-'42;)  Rev.  Robert  Davidson,  D.D., 
(1843-^59;)  Rev.  Howard  Crosby,  D.D.,  (1861-'62 ;)  Rev.  "V^illiam  T. 
Beatty,  (1863-67,)  and  at  present  without  a  pastor. 


HISTOEICAL   DISCOURSE.  118 

senior  ex-j)astor  of  this  cliurch,  witb.  great  propriety  the 
committee  have  solicited  from  him  the  favor,  and  the 
congregation  will  enjoy  the  pleasure,  of  listening  to  the 
closing  address  of  our  anniversary  from  one  who,  forty- 
six  years  ago,  was  set  apart  to  the  work  of  tlie  ministry 
within  these  walls  by  the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the 
Presbyteiy. 

November  10th,  1821,  there  was  received  into  the 
membership  of  the  church,  on  profession  of  his  faith,  a 
young  man,  in  the  seventeenth  year  of  his  age,  who 
subsequently  became  one  of  the  most  devoted  of  our 
foreign  missionaries — David  Abeel.  His  father  was  a 
man  of  great  moral  integrity  and  of  remarkable  energy 
of  character;  while  his  mother,  Jane  Hassert,  was  a 
woman  of  uncommon  amiability  of  temper  and  of  de- 
voted piety.  There  "were  beautifully  blended  in  the 
character  of  young  Abeel  great  firmness  of  purpose,  a 
quick  intellect,  and  an  unusual  development  of  gentle- 
ness and  affection.  He  was  one  of  those  men  who  drew 
toward  him  the  ■warmest  esteem  and  admiration ;  and, 
when  grace  gave  him  a  new  heart,  he  w^as  of  all  others 
the  one  ^vhose  soul  would  overflow  wdth  commiseration 
for  the  perishing  heathen,  and  who  was  ready  to  conse- 
crate himself  to  a  w^ork  w'hich  demanded  the  most  he- 
roic sacrifices,  and  which  he  continued  to  prosecute  with 
untiring  devotion  to  the  close  of  his  life.  The  interest 
with,  wdiich  he  was  regarded  by  all  those  "who  knew 
him,  as  well  as  indicating  one  element  of  his  strength, 
is  sufficiently  attested  by  the  uniform  name  which  he 
bore  of  "the  beloved  Abeel."  His  early  death,  at  the 
age  of  forty-two,  filled  the  whole  Church  with  mourn- 
ing ;  for  well  she  knew  that  such  men  are  rare — men 
of  similar  faith  and  ardor,  and  of  entire  consecration 
to  the  cause  of  God  and  man.  It  is  an  honor  to  have 
8 


11-i  HISTORICAL  DISCOUESE. 

upon  our  cliurcli-rolls  tlie  name  of  such  a  man,  and  to 
have  sent  forth  into  the  Gosj)el  ministry  and  into  the 
heathen  world  David  Abeel. 

In  addition  to  Dr.  Abeel,  there  were  six  young  men 
from  this  con^-reo-ation  who  consecrated  themselves  to 
God  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  who  united  with 
the  church  by  profession  during  the  ministry  of  Dr. 
Ferris.  The  whole  number  of  additions  to  the  church 
during  the  period  nnder  I'eview  was  seventy-eight  by 
profession  and  twenty-seven  by  certificate,  and  of  the 
whole  number,  one  hundred  and  five,  only  seven  are 
now  in  communion  with  ns. 

The  pastoral  relation  between  Dr.  Ferris  and  this 
congregation  was  dissolved  in  October,  1824,  when  he 
removed  to  Albany  and  was  installed  over  the  Second 
Keformed  Dutch  Church  of  that  city,  succeeding  Dr. 
John  De  Witt,  wdio  had  recently  assumed  the  Profes- 
sorship of  Biblical  Criticism,  Ecclesiastical  History,  and 
Pastoral  Theology  in  our  Seminary.  The  successive 
fields  of  labor  occupied  by  Dr.-  Ferris  w^ere,  in  Albany 
t^velve  years;  in  the  Market  Street  Church,  of  New- 
York,  twelve  years;  and,  since  1S52,  as  the  Chancellor 
of  the  University  of  New-York,  in  which  honorable 
position  may  he  long  be  spared  to  serve  the  cause  of 
education  and  advance  the  interests  of  the  Redeemer's 
kingdom. 

Forty-three  years  ago,  when  the  ministry  of  Dr.  Fer- 
ris terminated,  New-Brunswick  was  an  ancient  town. 
Those  who  were  then  familiar  wdth  the  city  would  now 
recognize  only  a  few  things  wdiich  have  not  j)assed 
throusrh  chaui^es,  and  the  inhabitants  with  whom  he 
was  then  familiar  would  no  lono-er  be  seen  in  our 
streets.  The  population,  numbering  about  four  thou- 
sand five  hundred,  lived  between  New  street  at  the  south, 


HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE.  115 

Somerset  street  at  tLe  north,  and  George  street  at  tlie 
west,  with  a  few  families  on  the  outskirts  of  the  town. 
This  building,  without  a  steeple,  had  stood  for  twelve 
years,  and  at  the  time  of  its  erection  it  was  thought 
that  it  would  be  too  far  distant  from  the  ceutre  of  pop- 
ulation, as  at  that  time  only  a  few  families  were  living 
further  west.  About  one  half  of  the  congregation 
were  from  the  country,  and  of  the  city  charge  about 
fifty  families  resided  in  Burnet  street,  thirty  in  Church, 
in  Water  and  Albany  streets  there  were  forty,  and  the 
balance  were  living  in  ISTeilson,  New,  Peace,  and  Hiram 
streets.  All  that  portion  of  the  city  beyond  George, 
l^ew,  and  Somerset  streets  was  out  of  town.  The  Col- 
lege was  standing  in  an  unfinished  condition  on  quite  a 
barren  hill.  The  grounds  now  occupied  by  the  Semi- 
nary and  the  beautiful  residences  beyond"  were  desolate 
in  the  extreme,  presenting  the  remains  of  the  old  forti- 
fication of  the  British  army  during  the  Revolution. 
The  Presbyterian  congregation  was  worshiping  in  their 
second  edifice,  fronting  Paterson  street,  a  short  distance 
below  the  j^resent  site.  Dr.  How  had  preached  his 
last  sermon  in  this  church  October  5th,  1823,  to  accept 
a  call  in  the  city  of  Savannah,  and  they  were  now  va- 
cant. The  first  building  of  the  Baptist  church  was 
standing  on  the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  depot,  sur- 
rounded by  a  cemetery  of  about  one  acre,  where  they 
continued  to  worship  until  1837,  when  the  property 
was  sold  and  the  present  edifice  erected.*     There  was 

*  This  society  was  connected  with  the  church  at  Piscataway  for  several 
years,  the  pastor  serving  both  congregations.  The  first  church  edifice  was 
completed  in  1812,  and  the  church  organized  September  21st,  181G.  The 
following  have  been  pastors :  Rev.  James  McLaughlin,  (1812-17,)  Rev.  John 
Johnson,  (1818-19,)  Rev.  G.  S.  Webb,  D.D.,  (1821-43,)  Rev.  George  R. 
Bliss,  D.D.,  (184.3-49,)  Rev.  Shobel  S.  Parker,  (1850-52,)  Rev.  George  W. 
Kempton,  (1852-57,)  Rev.  Thomas  R.  Hewlett,  (1858-59,)  and  Rev.  Mor- 
timer S.  Riddell,  D.D.,  since  1860. 


116  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

only  one  Methodist  clinrcli,  in  Liberty  street,  built  in 
1811.  A  trip  to  Philadelphia  was  an  event  to  be  plan- 
ned some  weeks  before  the  undertaking,  and  a  journey 
to  New- York  and  return  consumed  two  days. 

The  successor  of  Dr.  Ferris,  and  the  ninth  pastor,  was 

EEV.    JAMES   B.    HAEDENBEEGII,    D.D. 

He  was  called  April  2d,  1825,  and  was  the  second 
minister  of  this  name  who  held  the  pastoral  office  in 
this  church.  He  was  born  in  Ulster  county,  N."  Y. ; 
graduated  from  Union  College  in  1821,  and  from  our 
Theological  Seminary  in  1824;  immediately  after  which 
he  was  installed  Pastor  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church, 
of  Helderberg,  in  the  county  of  Albany.  He  w^as 
holding  this  position  when  the  Consistory  of  this  church 
presented  him  an  urgent  call  through  one  of  their 
deacons,  Mr.  H.  H.  Schenck.  He  remained  in  connec- 
tion with  this  church  until  December,  1829,  discharg- 
ing his  duties  wdth  great  fidelity  ^nd  success,  in  order 
that  he  might  accept  an  invitation  to  labor  in  a  new 
enterprise  in  Orchard  street.  New- York  City,  from 
whence  he  removed  to  Rhinebeck  for  six  years,  to  the 
First  Church,  of  Philadelphia,  for  four  years,  and  thence 
to  the  North -West  Church,  in  New- York,  for  fourteen 
years. 

The  property  on  which  our  church  edifice  stands  was 
enlarged,  in  the  years  1823  and  1825,  by  the  purchase 
of  two  lots  of  forty-three  feet  front  on  Bayard  and 
Paterson  streets,  with  a  depth  along  the  alley  of  two 
hundred  and  forty-four  feet,  at  a  cost  of  $395.50.  The 
first  lecture-room  owned  by  the  congregation  was  erected 
in  1826,  on  the  corner  of  the  alley  and  Bayard  street, 
at  an  expense  of  $1468.     All  the  weekly  services  of 


HISTORICAL   DISCO UESE.  -  117 

the  cliurcli  were  held,  up  to  this  date,  in  the  Lancaste- 
rian  school-room  in  Schureman  street.  The  church  edi- 
fice was  still  further  imj^roved  by  the  erection  of  a 
steeple  in  the  year  1827,  under  the  direction  of  three 
very  efficient  members  of  the  congregation,  Staats  Van 
Deursen,  Matthew  Egerton,  and  Peter  Spader.  The 
amount  expended  was  $2725. 

On  our  list  of  church  members  received  durinor  the 
ministry  of  Dr.  Hardenbergh  I  find  the  name  of  that 
excellent  missionary,  Kev.  Frederick  B.  Thompson. 
Through  the  influence  of  his  pastor  he  was  induced  to 
commence  a  course  of  preparation  for  the  gospel  min- 
istry. His  missionary  life  commenced  September  17th, 
1838,  when  he  reached  Singapore,  on  his  way  to  the 
island  of  Borneo,  where  he  sj)eiit  several  years  labor- 
ing with  great  industry  and  devotion  for  the  cause  of 
Christ  among  the  benighted  Dyaks.  His  course  was 
soon  finished.  He  died  in  the  city  of  Berne,  Switzer- 
land, January  17th,  1848,  in  the  thirty-ninth  year  of 
his  age,  "just  at  a  time  when  his  great  usefulness  be- 
came apparent,  and  at  a  peculiar  crisis,  when  the  church 
most  needed  his  labors.  Had  he  lived,"  adds  his  bio- 
grapher, "to  the  ordinary  age  of  man,  he  would,  un- 
doubtedly, have  stood  among  the  very  first  missionaries 
of  his  age."  In  a  commemorative  discourse,  preached 
in  this  church  after  the  news  of  his  death  had  reached 
America,  Dr.  How  remarked,  "The  life  of  our  departed 
brother  has  been  short,  but  it  has  not  been  in  vain ; 
and  we  doubt  not  but  that,  hundreds  of  years  hence, 
the  name  of  Frederick  B.  Thompson  Avill  be  pro- 
nounced in  Borneo  with  blessings  uj)on  it."  The  mem- 
ory of  this  godly  man  is  still  precious  in  our  church, 
and  it  was  a  privilege  in  the  pastor  to  have  received 
him  into  her  communion. 


118  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

Dr.  Hardenbergb's  resignation  was  not  accepted  nntil 
repeated  efforts  had  been  made  to  retain  his  services ; 
but,  under  a  conviction  of  duty,  he  was  constrained  to 
leave  an  established  and  prosperous  church  for  a  new 
enterprise  in  the  city  of  New- York. 

The  last  three  pastoi*s  of  this  church,  Drs.  Ludlow, 
Ferris,  and  Ilardenbergh,  were  young  men,  educated 
in  our  own  Seminary,  and  called  to  exercise  the  work 
of  the  ministry  at  a  most  interesting  period  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  church.  They  lived  at  a  time  when  all  the 
great  benevolent  institutions  of  the  age  were  set  in 
operation,  and  the  Kingdom  of  Christ  was  organized 
for  more  efficient  activity  against  the  kingdom  of  dark- 
ness. They  all  identified  themselves  with  the  promi- 
nent schemes  of  Christian  benevolence,  and  aided  in 
carrying  forward  the  plans  of  religious  enterprise. 

The  date  of  the  reoro-anization  of  our  Collec-e  occurred 
during  this  period.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  in  May,  1825,  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
increase  the  endowment  of  the  institution,  so  that  its 
literary  department  might  be  revived  and  the  machi- 
nery of  education  set  in  full  operation.  Kev.  Jesse 
Fonda  was  chairman  of  the  committee,  and  Rev.  J.  Lud- 
low and  an  elder  of  this  church,  Jacob  R.  Ilarden- 
bergh, were  members.  The  plan  was  successful,  and  so 
promptly  was  the  effort  responded  to  throughout  the 
church  that,  at  an  adjourned  meeting  of  General  Synod, 
held  in  September  following,  the  gratifying  report  was 
made  that  subscriptions  for  a  third  professorship  to  the 
amount  of  $26,000  had  been  obtained,  principally 
within  the  bounds  of  the  Synod  of  Albany,  and  ar- 
rauirements  were  made  for  the  revival  of  the  CoUes^e. 
At  the  same  time  the  name  of  the  institution  was 
changed  from  Queen's  to  Rutgers,  in  honor  of  a  noble 


HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE.  119 

E evolutionary  patriot,  a  liberal  contributor  to  its 
funds,  and  a  distinguished  elder  in  the  church.  Since 
that  period  the  College  and  Theological  Seminary, 
which  have  given  such  distinction  to  our  city,  have  in- 
creased in  prosperity  and  usefulness,  until,  by  the  mu- 
nificent endowments  recently  procured,  they  have  been 
placed  on  a  substantial  foundation,  and  have  obtained 
a  position  of  great  prominence  among  the  institutions  of 
our  land. 

January  20th,  1825,  an  event  occurred  in  the  congre- 
gation which  clothed  not  only  this  church  but  the 
whole  denomination  in  mourning.  I  refer  to  the  death 
of  the  venerable  Professor  Dr.  John  H.  Livingston. 
He  was  a  resident  of  this  city  and  a  member  of  the  con- 
gregation for  fifteen  years,  and  during  all  this  period 
he  was  the  honored  head  of  our  institutions  and  the 
acknowledged  leader  of  all  religious  enterprises.  Dr. 
Livingston  was  a  man  of  mark  in  every  position  he  oc- 
cupied, the  observed  of  all  observers.  Many  things  in 
this  city  remind  us  of  him.  The  name  of  one  of  our 
most  beautiful  streets  is  called  after  him,  Livingston 
Avenue.  The  seat  which  he  always  occupied  in  this 
sanctuary  was  at  the  head  of  the  elders'  pew,  with  a  form 
erect  even  amid  the  infirmities  of  age,  and  an  attention 
that  never  wandered  for  a  moment.  This  building  re- 
minds us  of  him.  He  laid  the  corner-stone  Avith  an 
appropriate  address,  and,  when  it  was  completed,  he 
preached  the  dedication  sermon.  He  presided  at  the 
ordination  of  pastors ;  during  the  time  of  vacancy  was 
chairman  of  meetings  of  Consistory,  and  directed  the 
affairs  of  the  congregation  ;  he  offered  consolation  to  the 
people  on  the  death  or  removal  of  their  ministers,  and 
stood  himself  in  the  room  of  a  shepherd.  It  was  re- 
garded as  a  great  j)rivilege  to  hear  him  preach,  and 


120  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

communion  Sabbatlis  in  the  church  of  New-Brunswick 
always  drew  a  Large  congregation ;  for  the  duty  devolved 
upon  him,  by  the  courtesy  of  pastors,  to  take  the  promi- 
nent place  in  the  services.  And  it  is  said  that,  while 
he  was  always  excellent,  on  these  occasions  he  was  supe- 
rior. The  subject  in  which  he  most  delighted  was 
Jesus  the  Mediator  of  the  Covenant,  and  at  the  Table 
of  the  Lord  he  would  grasj^  the  doctrine  of  the  cross 
with  a  comprehensiveness  which  was  peculiar  to  him- 
self, and  present  it  in  a  manner  so  adapted  to  his  tbeme 
that  all  hearts  would  melt  in  the  presence  of  Infinite 
Love. 

Dr.  Livingston's  sudden  death  was  almost  like  a 
translation.  On  the  day  preceding  he  had  delivered 
an  important  lecture  in  the  institution,  and,  retiring  to 
rest  at  the  usual  hour,  during  the  night  he  was  received 
into  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  at  the  ripe  age  of  seventy- 
nine  years.  His  funeral  was  attended  in  this  building 
by  an  immense  concourse  of  people,  and  an  address  de- 
livered by  Dr.  Milledoler.  A  commemorative  sermon 
^vas  preached  on  a  subsequent  Sabbath  by  Dr.  John 
De  Witt,  and  by  request  of  the  Consistory  was  pub- 
lished. His  monument  is  in  our  churchyard,  beneath 
which  his  precious  dust  is  resting  until  the  resurrection 
into  life  eternal. 

It  is  forty-two  years  since  this  noble  man  was  taken 
from  the  church,  and  yet  the  impressions  left  upon  the 
minds  of  hundreds  in  our  city  are  as  vivid  as  if  they 
had  met  him  in  our  streets  only  yesterday.  Indeed,  not 
one  who  saw  him  in  the  pulpit  could  ever  forget  him. 
His  clerical  dress  of  the  old  style ;  his  tall,  erect,  digni- 
fied form ;  his  deliberate  but  elastic  step ;  his  counte- 
nance so  regular,  with  a  blended  expression  of  benignity 
and  intelligence ;  his  tones  of  voice  so  full,  varied,  and 


HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE.  121 

flowing;  his  style  animated,  tender,  colloquial,  often 
sublime,  would  arrest  tlie  attention  of  tlie  youngest 
hearer.  I  have  heard  descriptions  of  him,  most  accu- 
rate, from  persons  who  at  the  time  of  his  death  were 
mere  childi-en.  There  must  have  been  something  pe- 
culiar about  him  to  stamp  on  the  mind  an  im2:)ression 
which  is  so  permanent.  "As  a  preacher,"  writes  Dr. 
Sprague,  "he  was  among  the  most  prominent  of  his 
day ;  his  sermons  teemed  with  the  richest  evangelical 
truth,  jDresented  in  the  most  luminous  way,  and  in  a 
style  of  delivery  impressive,  majestic,  and  yet  singularly 
unique.  He  was  for  many  years  recognized  as  the 
patriarch  of  the  Dutch  Church,  and  his  memory  is 
embalmed  in  the  gratitude  and  veneration  of  the  whole 
church." 

The  General  Synod  immediately  made  choice  of  Rev. 
Philip  Milledoler,  D.D.,  one  of  the  ministers  of  the 
Collegiate  Church  in  New- York,  as  the  successor  of  Dr. 
Livingston  in  the  chair  of  Didactic  Theology,  and  at 
the  same  time  he  was  appointed  President  of  Kutgers 
College.  This  position  he  filled  for  fifteen  years,  during 
which  time  he  was  a  constant  attendant  upon  the  ser- 
vices of  this  church,  occupying  one  of  the  square  pews, 
at  the  head  of  which  he  always  sat,  giving  devout  and 
reverent  attention  to  the  preaching  of  the  word. 

Dr.  Milledoler  was  a  most  useful  and  excellent  man, 
and  at  one  period  of  his  life  his  services  were  sought 
by  some  of  tlie  most  important  congregations  in  New- 
York  and  Philadelphia.  In  the  latter  city,  as  the  suc- 
cessor of  Kev.  John  Blair  Smith,  in  the  Pine  Street 
Church,  his  ministry  was  eminently  successful,  and  for 
several  years  it  was  blessed  by  an  almost  uninterrupted 
revival.  Previous  to  the  organization  of  Princeton 
Seminary,  the  Presbytery  of  New- York  appointed  him 


122  niSTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

tlie  instructor  of  students  in  tlieology,  and  lie  liad  the 
lionor  of  sending  out  into  the  ministry  several  useful 
and  well-prepared  young  men.  Dr.  Sprague  lias  fur- 
uislied  us  with  the  following  picture  of  the  man,  the 
correctness  of  which  will  be  recognized  by  all  who 
knew  him :  "  Dr.  Milledoler  was  a  man  of  rather  more 
than  the  medium  height,  w^ell-proportioned,  vvdtli  a 
grave  countenance,  dignified  manners,  and  good  pow- 
ers of  conversation.  His  mind,  naturally  of  a  suj^erior 
mould,  was  well-disciplined  and  well-stored.  His  Chris- 
tian character  was  marked  by  great  consistency  and  a 
uniformly  fervent  devotion.  His  sermons  were  always 
highly  evangelical,  and  delivered  with  a  marked  viva- 
city and  unction  that  could  .scarcely  fail  to  command 
attention.  But  nothing  pertaining  to  him  was  so  un- 
mistakable as  his  prayers ;  it  seemed  as  if  he  w^ere 
literally  speaking  to  his  Father  in  heaven  face  to  face ; 
simplicity,  tenderness,  fullness,  freedom,  and  variety  were 
their  leading  characteristics." 

We  are  brought,  in  the  progress  of  our  narrative,  to 
the  year  1829.  Rapid  changes  had  taken  j^lace  in  the 
ministry  of  this  church.  Dr.  Ludlow  had  hardly  be- 
come acquainted  Avith  his  peo2:)le  w^hen  the  General 
Synod  called  him  to  the  Seminary;  Dr.  Ferris  has  only 
commenced  his  work  when  Albany  calls  him  to  the  va- 
cant pulpit  of  Dr.  DeWitt ;  and  Dr.  Hardenbergh  is 
induced  to  accept  a  iievv^  field  of  labor  in  the  city  of 
New-York  after  serving  this  church  for  about  four 
years.  It  is  not  to  be  disguised  that  these  short  pastor- 
ates were  very  unfavorable  to  the  real  interests  of  the 
church.  Frequent  occurrence  of  vacancies  interrupted 
the  steady  progress  of  religious  work,  and  agitated  the 
congregation  with  the  natural  anxiety  respecting  a  suc- 
cessor.    It  is  almost  surprising  that  the  selections  were 


niSTORICAL  ■  DISCOURSE.  123 

made  witli  sucli  a  spirit  of  unanimity,  and  tliat  this 
large  cliurcli  so  soon  rallied  aronnd  tliese  young  men 
sent  to  them  by  the  Lord  of  the  vineyard. 

The  period  of  vacancy  was  short.  Dr.  Hardenbergh's 
resignation  took  effect  in  December,  1829,  and  only  two 
months  subsequent,  namely,  on  February  23d,  1830,  a 
unanimous  call  was  extended  to  the  tenth  pastor, 

EEV.    JACOB    J.    JAjS^EWAY,    D.D. 

Pie  had  previously  been  called  to  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  this  city,  as  the  successor  of  Dr.  Joseph 
Clark,  in  1814,  which  invitation  he  declined.  Previous 
to  his  settlement  over  this  congregation  he  had  occupied 
some  of  the  most  prominent  positions  in  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  and  at  the  date  of  his  call  had  just  resigned 
the  Professorship  of  Theology  in  the  Western  Theolo- 
gical Seminary,  at  Alleghany,  Pa.  Pie  was  not  installed 
until  May  26th,  though  he  assumed  the  charge  of  the 
pulpit  early  in  the  sjDring.  The  church  now  felt  that 
they  had  secured  a  pastor  of  middle  age,  who  would 
long  remain  among  them,  and  give  his  ripe  experience 
and  sound  instruction  to  the  upbuilding  and  establish- 
ment of  the  congregation.  He  came  to  this  city  with 
a  well-furnished  mind,  a  large  stock  of  experience,  tho- 
roughly orthodox  in  his  sentiments,  and  at  once,  though 
he  had  spent  his  whole  ministerial  life  in  the  Presbyte- 
I'ian  Church,  identified  himself  with  all  the  interests  of 
our  denomination.  Indeed,  he  was  only  returning  to 
his  first  home.  His  parents  v/ere  members  of  the  Col- 
legiate Church,  in  New- York,  into  whose  communion 
he  also  was  received  on  confession  of  his  faith  after 
OTaduatino;  from  Columbia  Colle2:e.     His   theoloo^ical 

iO  CD  O  ~ 

studies  were  pursued  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Liv- 


124  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

ingston,  for  whom  he  cherished  an  imbounded  rever- 
ence, first  as  his  pastor,  then  as  his  instructor,  and 
throuo:h  life  as  his  cherished  friend.  The  Colleo-e  testi- 
fied  their  confidence  in  liim  by  electing  him  a  member 
of  their  Corporation,  and  the  General  Synod  by  elevat- 
ing him  to  the  Presidency  of  that  body  in  1833. 

About  the  time  of  his  settlement  the  plan  of  organ- 
izing a  church  at  Middlebush  was  agitated,  and  pre- 
liminary measures  taken  to  carry  it  into  efi'ect.  A 
memorial  was  drawn  up  with  great  care  by  that  jDor- 
tion  of  the  congregation  residing  in  this  district  and 
laid  before  the  Consistory.  The  commissioners  were 
Henry  V.  Demott  and  Frederick  J.  Van  Liew.  They 
argue  in  this  paper  the  importance  of  establishing  a 
church  not  only  in  that  immediate  neighborhood,  but 
also  on  George's  Road.  The  Consistory  encouraged 
the  movement,  and  by  immediate  resolution  proj^osed 
to  give,  as  their  subscription,  the  parsonage  lot  of  three 
acres  on  Somerset  and  Hamilton  streets.  Dr.  Janeway 
was  a  warm  advocate  of  this  measure,  and  although  it 
was  not  carried  into  effect  during  his  ministry,  yet  he 
regarded  the  enter23rise  as  essential  to  the  prosperity  of 
the  church ;  and,  marking  the  indisposition  of  the  people 
to  leave  his  ministry,  in  a  spirit  of  great  self-sacrifice 
he  immediately  determined  to  resign  his  charge,  hoping 
that  this  important  plan  would  soon  be  accomplished. 

The  expectation  of  the  church  that  the  ministry  of 
Dr.  Janeway  would  be  of  long  continuance  was  to  be 
disappointed.  The  extent  of  the  congregation,  the 
amount  of  labor  incident  to  a  great  country  as  well  as 
city  charge,  and  the  need  of  an  immediate  organization 
in  some  joart  of  this  extensive  field,  induced  him  to  seek 
from  the  Classis  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation, 
which  was  effected  February  24th,  1831,  after  serving 
the  church  only  one  year. 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  125 

After  a  sliort  residence  in  the  city  of  New- York,  Dr. 
Janeway  returned  to  New-Brunswick,  and  in  1833  was 
called  to  the  Vice-Presidency  of  the  College,  and  to  the 
Professorship  of  Belles  Lettres  and  the  Evidences  of 
Christianity,  which  positions  he  filled  with  eminent 
ability  until  his  resignation  in  1839. 

He  died  at  his  residence  in  Livingston  Avenue  on 
Sabbath  evening,  June  27th,  1858,  in  the  eighty-fourth 
year  of  his  age ;  a  man  greatly  beloved  for  his  many 
virtues,  and  of  distinguished  position  in  the  church. 
It  was  a  sentiment  to  which  this  entire  community  re- 
sponded, uttered  at  his  funeral  by  his  intimate  friend 
Dr.  Hodge,  "After  a  life  devoted  with  singular  simpli- 
city of  purpose  to  the  service  of  his  Master,  he  descends 
to  the  grave  with  a  reputation  without  a  blot,  followed 
by  the  benedictions  of  hundreds  and  by  the  respectful 
affection  of  thousands.  A  long,  prosperous,  happy,  and 
useful  life  has  been  crowned  with,  a  truly  Christian 
death." 

The  resignation  of  Dr.  Janeway  in  the  winter  of  1831 
again  left  this  church  vacant.  After  making  an  effort 
to  secure  the  services  of  Pev.  Samuel  A.  Van  Vrankeu, 
and  having  the  pulpit  supplied  by  Pev.  Henry  Hermance 
for  about  six  months,  the  choice  of  tlie  church,  as  the 
eleventh  pastor,  ^vas  my  immediate  predecessor, 

EEV.    SAMUEL   B.    HOW,    D.D. 

Dr.  How  was  born  in  the  city  of  Burlington;  gradu- 
ated from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1811 ;  was 
licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  in  1 813 ;  first 
pastor  for  two  years  of  the  church  of  Salisbury,  Pa. ;  then 
five  years  of  the  churcli  of  Trenton,  IST.  J. ;  then  two  years 
as  the  minister  of  the  First   Presbyterian  Churck  of 


126  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

this  city ;  tlien  for  seven  years  pastor  of  tlie  iDclepen- 
dent  Churcli  of  Savannali ;  and  after  laboring  for  a  sliort 
time  as  President  of  Dickinson  College,  Pa.,  and  also  in 
a  ueAV  enterprise  in  New- York,  lie  was  called  to  tliis 
cliurch  May  18tb,  1832. 

You  liave  now  followed  me  to  a  period  in  the  history 
of  our  clmrcli  within  the  recollection  of  nearly  every 
middle-aged  man.  The  pastor  who  now  filled  this  pul- 
pit is  still  living,  and  the  time  has  not  yet  come  to  form 
an  estimate  of  character  or  to  sum  up  the  record  of  re- 
sults. The  briefest  statement  of  facts  occurrins:  within 
the  next  thirty-five  years  will  be  all  that  is  expected  pre- 
vious to  closins:  our  narrative. 

The  period  that  now  comes  under  review  may  be  re- 
garded as  the  era  of  church  extension  and  revivals.  In 
both  of  these  departments  there  has  been  an  advance 
beyond  that  of  any  preceding  period.  In  regard  to 
the  muliplication  of  churches,  the  following  fiicts  will 
arrest  attention :  Of  the  ten  organizations  now  consti- 
tuting: the  Classis  of  New-Brunswick,  when  Dr.  How 
commenced  his  ministry,  only  two,  in  addition  to  our 
own,  w^ere  in  existence — the  churches  of  Six  Mile  Run 
and  Hillsborough.  The  original  Classis,  numbering  four- 
teen churches  and  eleven  ministers,  extended  from  Mid- 
dletown,  in  Monmouth  couuty,  to  Lebanon  in  Hunterdon, 
and  embraced  also  three  churches  still  farther  north,  in 
Orange  county,  N.  Y.  Now,  within  the  same  territory 
we  have  three  Classes,  thirty-four  churches,  with  a  body 
of  forty  ministers.  That  we  have  multiplied  to  the  ex- 
tent that  we  should  in  all  parts  of  the  field  is  not  to  be 
presumed,  and  the  question  should  press  upon  us  whe- 
ther we  ought  not  to  stretch  abroad  the  curtains  of  our 
habitation. 

Almost  the  fii'st  act  after  the  settlement  of  Dr.  How 


niSTORICAL   DISCO L'llSE.       •  127 

was  tlie  organization  of  the  long  tallved  of  cliurcli  in  tlie 
coimtiy  portion  of  his  charge.  Once  more  the  sub- 
ject came  before  the  Consistory  in  a  memorial  from  that 
part  of  the  congregation  residing  in  the  vicinity  of  Mid- 
dlebush,  and  an  earnest  resolution  was  adopted  that  the 
time  had  now  fully  come  in  which  to  arise  and  build. 
The  concurrence  of  the  surroundino;;  churches  havinsf 
been  secured,  by  an  act  of  Classis  the  Eeformed  Dutch 
Church  of  Middlebush^'  was  organized  March  lYth,  1834, 
by  a  committee  consisting  of  Rev.  Messrs.  Jacob  I.  Slmltz, 
H.  L.  Rice,  and  A.  D.  Wilson.  That  church  has  always 
been  looked  upon  with  interest  as  our  own  enterprise, 
and  nothing  affords  the  old  First  more  joy  than  to  learn 
of  their  prosperity.  And  to-day  we  offer  our  congra- 
tulations that,  under  the  administration  of  her  young 
pastor,  she  is  assuming  new  vigor,  and  is  beautifying  the 
sanctuary  of  the  Lord. 

It  pleased  God,  in  the  year  1837,  to  pour  out  his  Spirit 
in  a  remarkable  manner  upon  New-Brunswick,  and  bless 
this  church  v/ith  a  revival  of  relio-ion  such  as  is  seldom 
enjoyed.  The  work  of  grace  commenced  in  the  Baptist 
church  some  time  in  the  month  of  March,  and  soon 
spread  through  all  the  other  congregations.  Of  this  re- 
vival, two  interesting  narratives  were  published  at  the 
time  in  the  religious  newsjiapers ;  one  by  Dr.  Jones,  pas- 
tor of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  the  other  by  Dr. 
How,  giving  a  detailed  account  of  the  work  in  his  own 
charge.  In  respect  to  this  congregation  Dr.  How  states 
that  "  for  several  years  previous  it  had  been  peaceful 
and  prosperous,  and  had  steadily  improved  in  its  spirit- 
ual interests."      Two  events  are  spoken  of  in  the  nar- 


*  The  pastors  settled  at  Middlebush  have  been  Rev.  J.  I.  Shultz, 
(1834-38,)  Rev.  John  A.  Van  Doren,  (1838-66,)  and  Rev.  George  W. 
Swain,  the  present  pastor. 


128  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

rative  as  seeming  to  prepare  tlie  way  for  this  great 
awakening;  namely,  the  visitation  of  the  cholera  in 
1832,  and  the  desolating  tornado  which  swept  through 
the  city  in  June,  1835,  laying  whole  streets  in  ruins  and 
destroying  several  lives.  The  minds  of  the  people  were 
arrested  and  solemnized  by  these  events,  and  in  many 
instances  saving  impressions  were  produced.  But  in  the 
latter  part  of  May,  1837,  the  entire  congregation  seemed 
to  be  affected  with  a  religions  awe,  and  it  was  rare  to 
meet  with  an  individual  who  was  not  wilhng  to  con- 
vei'se  with  his  pastor  on  his  spiritual  interests,  lleligious 
meetings  were  thronged.  Sabbath  days  were  seasons  of 
refreshing,  conversions  were  multiplied,  and  the  entire 
population  was  moved  by  the  Spirit  of  God. 

The  result  of  this  work  of  grace  in  this  churcli  was 
the  addition  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  to  the 
communion,  and  about  live  hundred  to  all  the  churches 
in  the  city.  The  work  was  very  powerful  in  the  Col- 
lege. In  the  graduating  class  of  that  year  not  one  was 
left  unvisited.  Out  of  the  number  who  united  Avitli 
our  church  nine  entered  the  gospel  ministry,  of  whom 
two  are  now  professors  in  our  Theological  Seminary — 
Kev.  Drs.  De  Witt  and  Demarest.  Many  who  were 
received  into  the  membership  of  the  church  had  been 
under  serious  impressions  for  six,  nine,  and  twelve 
months,  and  some  for  tAVo  or  three  years. 

The  means  employed  were  the  ordinary  and  estab- 
lished ordinances  of  gi'ace,  and  no  new  measures  or 
novel  doctrines  w^ere  resorted  to  in  order  to  feed  a  mere 
excitement.  Kelio-ious  meeting's  were  indeed  multi- 
plied,  but  they  were  for  prayer  and  the  preaching  of 
the  Word.  The  aid  of  other  ministers  was  sought,  but 
they  were  the  pastors  of  neighboring  churches  and  the 
professors  in  the   institutions.     The   morning  j^rayer- 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  •    129 

meeting  at  six  o'clock  was  uniformly  crowded,  and 
those  who  attended  tliem  will  never  forget  the  solemn 
awe  that  rested  upon  the  assemblies.  While  there  was 
far  from  the  exhibition  of  any  opposition,  every  one 
spoke  of  the  revival  with  interest,  and  all  seemed  to  come 
under  the  power  of  an  influence  which  was  not  of  man 
but  of  God.  Dr.  How  remarks,  in  his  narrative,  that 
"there  was  no  disorder,  no  confusion,  no  wild,  mis- 
guided zeal.  All  was  serious,  solemn,  calm,  devout, 
and  at  times  deeply  affecting."  And  months  after  the 
work  had  ceased,  the  pastor  states,  as  the  effect  produced 
upon  the  congregation,  that  there  has  been  "an  in- 
creased sj^irit  of  harmony  and  love  among  the  people 
of  God,  and  never  was  the  congregation  in  a  state  of 
more  entire  peace  or  of  greater  prosperity  than  it  now 
enjoys." 

This  is  one  of  the  brightest  spots  in  the  history  of 
the  church,  and  it  will  be  long  before  the  members  of 
this  conoTe2:ation  and  the  citizens  of  New-Brunswick 
will  cease  to  speak  with  the  deepest  emotion  of  the 
revival  of  1837. 

In  subsequent  years  it  was  the  happiness  of  the  pas- 
tor to  witness  other  special  seasons  of  ingathering.  In 
1843,  thirty-three  were  added  to  the  communion ;  in 
1853,  twenty-seven;  and  in  1858,  fifty-four;  but  the 
powerful  work  of  grace  in  1837  stands  without  a  par- 
allel in  the  whole  history  of  the  church. 

Year  after  year  there  was  the  evidence  of  increased 
prosperity,  and  during  the  ministry  of  Dr.  How  the 
couo:re2:ation  had  so  enlaro;ed  in  numbers  that  he  re- 
ports  to  Classis  three  hundred  and  fifty  families,  and 
fi.ve  hundred  and  forty-nine  communicants  upon  the 
rolls.  It  was  God's  blessing  poured  out  upon  the  faith- 
ful preaching  of  the  Word,  and  great  diligence  in  the 
9 


130  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

discharge  of  pastoral  work.  So  will  God  bless  us  as 
we  are  faithful  to  his  truth,  and  conform  ourselves  to 
the  sure  teachings  of  his  Providence. 

The  large  accession  of  numbers  and  growth  of  the 
church  called  for  the  organization  of  a  second  congre- 
gation of  our  order  in  the  city.  The  blessing  of  God 
upon  the  labors  of  the  pastor  had  filled  this  building 
to  its  utmost  capacity,  every  seat  was  occupied,  and  it 
was  felt  that  to  send  out  a  colony  was  not  only  desira- 
ble but  an  absolute  necessity.  Those  who  were  the 
original  movers  in  this  enterprise,  while  they  no  doubt 
felt  deeply  the  sundering  of  the  tie  by  which  they 
were  bound  to  this  ancient  church,  and  could  not  but 
express  regret  at  their  parting  from  brethren  to  ^vhom 
they  were  tenderly  attached,  and  to  a  ministry  that  had 
been  eminently  blessed,  were  at  the  same  time  actuated 
by  a  conviction  that  another  church  was  needed  to 
meet  the  growing  religious  wants  of  this  city.  The 
plans  of  the  organization  having  been  perfected,  Febru- 
ary 14th,  1843,  there  was  organized  in  this  building 
the  Second  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  New-Bruns- 
wick, by  a  committee  of  Classis ;  and  upon  Rev.  Dr. 
How  devolved  the  pleasing  duty  of  ordaining  the  first 
Consistory.  Very  soon  after,  the  Second  Church  called 
as  their  first  pastor  Rev.  Dr.  Demarest,  now  of  the 
Theological  Seminary.* 

The  subsequent  history  of  this  church  proves  that 
the  men  who  originated  it  did  not  misinterj)ret  the  in- 
dications of  Providence.  And  while  we  ^vith  them 
thank  God  for  all  the  success  with  which  they  have  been 
crowned,  and  bless  Him  for  the  tokens  of  His  favor  in 

*  The  following  pastors  have  been  settled  in  this  church  :  Rev.  David  D. 
Demarest,  D.D.,  (1843-52,)  Rev.  Samuel  M.  Woodbridge,  D.D.,  (1852-57,) 
Rev.  Hugh  M.  Wilson,  D.D.,  (1858-G2,)  Rev.  John  W.  Schenck,  (18G2-6G,) 
Rev.  Chester  D.  Hartranft,  since  1866. 


HISTORICAL   DISCO  UESE.  131 

their  rapid  and  liealtliy  growth,  we  will  pray  that  botli 
of  these  churches  in  harmonious  cooperation  may  seek 
the  extension  of  the  Redeemer's  kino-dom,  and  from 
our  communions  there  may  go  up  to  the  heavenly  man- 
sions, a  host  of  redeemed  and  sanctified  souls  swelling 
the  company  of  the  ransomed  around  the  throne. 

The  failure  of  Dr.  How's  health  in  the  winter  of 
1860  led  him  to  seek  rest  from  mental  and  physical 
exercise.  Failing  to  receive  the  benefit  which  he  hoped 
to  derive  from  this  temporary  cessation  from  the  laboi's 
of  the  ministry,  he  felt  that  the  time  had  come  for  a 
dissolution  of  the  pastoral  connection.  Accordingly, 
June  14th,  1861,  he  resigned  his  call  into  the  hands  of 
the  Consistory,  and  his  relations  as  the  pastor  of  this 
church  ceased.  During  his  ministry  there  were  received 
into  the  membership  of  the  church  five  hundred  and 
thirty-eight  on  profession,  and  two  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-five by  certificate  from  other  churches,  in  all  the 
large  number  of  seven  hundred  and  sixty-three.  It  is 
a  pleasant  record  that  "  this  relation  had  been  continued 
nearly  thirty  years  in  a  spirit  of  entire  harmony,  and 
that  he  left  them  in  a  highly  prosperous  condition."  ^ 

A  long  vacancy  now  ensued.  But  in  the  mean  time 
the  Consistory  was  not  idle.  In  the  summer  of  1861, 
the  old  square  pews  were  removed,  and  the  building 
reseated  and  refurnished  in  the  present  modern  and 
attractive  appearance.  The  former  dependent  method 
of  raising  the  salary  by  subscription  was  abandoned, 
and  the  present  mode  of  making  the  j^ews  assessable 
for  the  expenses  of  the  church  was  adopted.  Kev. 
Joseph  A.  Collier  was  called,  but  failing  health  induced 

*  By  the  will  of  John  B.  Egerton,  in  1857,  the  church  came  into  pos- 
session of  $1000,  to  be  invested,  and  the  interest  used  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Sabbath-school ;  and  also  $3063,  "  the  interest  of  which  shall  be  used  as 
occasion  may  require  for  the  church  edifice  and  its  appurtenances." 


132  niSTOEICAL   DISCOURSE. 

liini  to  decline  the  invitation.  An  unsuccessful  effort 
was  also  made  to  settle  Rev.  J.  L.  MciSrair. 

Tlie  pulpit  remained  vacant  until  December  3d,  1863, 
wlien  your  present  pastor  was  installed.  The  sermon 
was  preached  by  Dr.  How,  from  the  words,  "Who  is 
sufficient  for  these  things  ?" 

During  the  short  period  of  my  ministry  the  church 
has  come  into  the  possession  of  the  adjoining  property, 
known  as  the  "Old  City  Hall,"  by  the  gift  of  John 
Clark,  at  an  expense  of  $3400.  A  beautiful  and  com- 
modious parsonage  has  been  purchased,  106  Greorge 
street,  under  the  management  of  a  committee  consisting 
of  John  Clark,  Johnson  Letson,  Joseph  Fisher,  Ira  C. 
Voorhees,  and  Jolm  Johnson.  The  amount  paid  for 
the  purchase  and  improvements  was  $5580.  The  ladies 
of  the  congregation  have  purchased  and  placed  in  the 
gallery  a  noble  organ  at  an  expense  of  $26:i5. 

Thei'e  were  upon  our  church  rolls,  in  June,  1863, 
three  hundred  and  sixteen  communicants.  We  have 
received  during  my  ministry  one  hundred  and  sixteen 
by  profession  and  seventy  by  certificate,  in  all  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty-six.  Our  present  communion  embraces 
four  hundred  and  sixteen  members. 

I  have  thus  traced  the  history  of  this  church  during 
a  period  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  years.  Grreat  changes 
have  been  witnessed  since  your  fathers  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  our  civil,  religious,  and  literary  institutions. 
The  insignificant  hamlet  that  had  grown  up  around 
Iniahs's  Ferry  of  a  few  hundred  inhabitants,  has  spread 
into  this  goodly  city,  with  its  churches,  and  College,  and 
Seminary,  and  schools,  and  advantages  of  commerce  and 
trade.  The  dense  forests  that  surrounded  New-Bruns- 
wick have  given  place  to  well-cultivated  farms,  and  the 
thrift  and  enterprise  of  our  rural  j)opulation.    The  Ra- 


HISTORICAL   DISCOUESE.  133 

ritans,  who  have  given  a  name  to  our  beautiful  river, 
have  long  since  disajipeared.  The  obscure  paths  through 
deep  forests  along  which  Dominie  Frelinghuysen  found 
his  way  to  his  distant  preaching  places,  have  been  ex- 
chausred  for  these  iron  roads  that  course  our  State,  the 
route  of  a  mighty  traffic.  The  little  church  in  Burnet 
street,  scarce  accommodating  three  hnndred  worship- 
ers, has  given  place  to  two  flourishing  congregations, 
with  these  ample  buildings  inviting  more  than  two 
thousand  souls  to  hear  the  Gos2:)el. 

That  God  was  with  your  fathers  is  the  record  of  our 
history.  Since  January,  1720,  twelve  ministers  have 
held  the  pastoral  office.  Of  this  number  four,  Freling- 
huysen, Leydt,  J.  R.  Hardenbergh,  and  Condict,  died 
while  in  the  service  of  the  church.  Five  of  your  min- 
isters have  held  professorships  in  our  literary  and  theo- 
loo;ical  institutions.    Four  are  still  living::. 

One  fact  in  our  history  worthy  of  special  interest  is 
the  large  number  of  young  men  who  have  been  con- 
nected with  our  church  and  have  entered  the  gospel 
ministry.  We  have  upon  our  roll  of  communicants  the 
names  of  fifty-one  who  here  made  a  profession  of  their 
faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  have  been  commis- 
sioned to  preach  the  Gospel  of  salvation.^'  In  addition 
to  this  number,  upward  of  fifty  were  received  by  cer- 
tificate from  other  churches,  and  were  subsequently 
numbered  among  the  ministry.  While  we  have  reason 
to  thank  God  that  He  has  raised  up  from  the  midst  of 
us  so  many  whom  he  has  honored  to  be  standard-bear- 
ers in  His  army,  we  will  remember  with  even  deeper 
gratitude  that  among  the  most  devoted  of  our  foreign 
missionaries,  Eev.  David  Abeel,  D.D.,  Rev.  Frederick  B. 

*  See  Appendix  V. 


184  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

Thompson,  and  his  wife,  Catherine  "VVyckoff,  "were 
born  in  this  city,  were  baptized  and  educated  in  this 
congregation,  were  members  of  the  catechetical  class 
and  Sabbath-school,  and  were  here  received  into  the 
full  communion  of  the  church." 

We  have  gathered  together  some  items  in  our  his- 
tory, but  have  made  no  attempt  to  sum  up  the  actual 
amount  of  good  accomplished  by  this  Christian  church. 
The  souls  that  have  here  been  educated  for  heaven,  the 
l:)enefactions  that  have  here  been  poured  into  the  treas- 
ury of  the  Lord,  the  influence  that  has  gone,  forth'  from 
this  house  of  prayer,  the  power  that  has  here  been  felt, 
is  known  only  to  God.  The  existence  of  a  single  Chris- 
tian church  in  a  community  is  an  unsj^eakable  blessing, 
and  eternity  alone  can  unfold  the  results  of  her  mission. 

While  gratitude  is  awakened  in  view  of  the  past, 
our  history  calls  us  to  be  faithful  to  the  present.  We 
in  our  generation  are  making  a  history,  and  those  who 
come  after  us  will  write  up  the  record  of  our  lives  and 
doings.  Shall  our  history  be  as  worthy  as  that  of  the 
fathers  ?  We  meet,  to-day,  a  congregation  of  the  living 
in  the  midst  of  the  dead.  Around  us  are  the  monu- 
ments of  the  departed.  The  sacred  dust  of  ministers, 
elders,  members  of  this  church,  Presidents  and  Profes- 
sors of  our  College  and  Seminary,  surround  these  walls. 
This  ancient  graveyard  is  the  resting  place  of  the  illus- 
trious dead.  Perhaps  no  spot  of  ground  has  crowded 
within  its  inclosure  names  so  dear  and  honored  through- 
out the  whole  bounds  of  our  denomination  as  that 
which  lies  beneath  the  shadow  of  this  venerable  build- 
ing. A  walk  through  this  unpretending  cemetery  will 
bring  before  your  eye  the  names  of  men  which  are 
common  property  to  the  Church  of  Christ.  Aside  from 
the  patriots  of  the  K evolution  who  are  resting  here 


HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE.  135 

until  tlie  morning  of  the  resurrection ;  and  elders  wlio 
in  their  infancy  were  baptized  by  the  hand  of  Freling- 
huysen,  and  in  their  maturity  were  received  into  the 
communion  under  the  ministry  of  Leydt ;  and  women 
who  helped  in  the  Gospel  of  Christ ;  there  are  beloved 
pastors,  and  learned  professors,  and  noble  benefactors, 
who  will  awake  when  the  dead  hear  the  voice  of  the 
Son  of  God,  and  come  forth.  It  is  meet  that  the  pre- 
cious dust  of  Hardenbergh,  and  Condict,  and  Living- 
ston, and  Woodhull,  and  De  Witt,  and  Schureman,  and 
Van  Benschoten,  and  Ludlow,  and  Van  Vranken,  and 
Cannon,  and  Theodore  Frelioghuysen  should  here  re- 
pose in  waiting  for  the  glorious  resurrection  unto  eternal 
life.  AYe  do  not  wonder  that,  on  reading  the  inscrip- 
tions on  these  monuments,  one  has  been  reminded  "  of 
that  place  of  sepulchre  in  the  neighborhood  of  London 
called  Bunhill  Fields,  where  are  deposited  the  remains 
of  such  men  as  Bunyan,  and  Baxter,  and  Watts,  and  a 
host  of  others  of  whom  the  world  was  not  worthy." 

Blessed  indeed  is  the  memory  of  the  fathers  of  this 
church,  and  noble  their  toils  and  sacrifices  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  Redeemer's  kino-dom.  "The  Lord 
our  God  be  with  us  as  he  was  with  our  fathers."  They 
have  left  their  names  and  deeds,  and  have  passed  away. 
Do  they  not  appeal  to  us  to  do  more  for  Christ  than  they 
have  done  ?  The  circumstances  that  sun^ound  us  for 
promoting  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  are  far  more  favor- 
able than  those  which  the  fathers  enjoyed.  We  have 
grown  in  numbers  and  in  resources  ;  we  may  derive  ad- 
vantage from  the  experience  and  study  lessons  fi'om 
the  errors  of  the  past ;  while  all  these  organizations  of 
modern  times  were  unknown  to  those  who  have  gone 
before  us. 

Though  the  oldest  organization  of  our  city,  this  church 


136  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

lias  not  outlived  her  influence.  Shall  we  not  recognize 
our  responsibility,  awakened  by  the  position  we  occupy 
and  the  history  of  God's  dealings  with  us  ?  Am  I  wrong 
in  cherishing  for  this  ancient  church  the  brighest  hopes? 
Progress  is  the  law  of  Christian  life.  May  we  not,  then, 
anticipate  growth  in  the  piety  of  her  members,  in  the 
liberality  of  her  benefactions,  and  in  the  efficiency  of 
her  labors  for  Christ?  The  most  wonderful  develop- 
ments of  Divine  Providence  are  now  in  progress.  Move- 
ments are  2'oinoj  on  in  our  world  which  are  tendins^  to 
advance  the  kino'dom  of  our  Lord.  Let  us  watch  the 
signs  of  the  times  and  make  our  church  life  throb  with 
the  impulse  of  a  Christian  activity.  And  let  this 
church  always  stand  among  her  sister  churches  of  this 
city,  established  upon  the  true  princij^les  of  the  Gospel, 
maintaining  the  faith  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  its 
purity,  and  built  on  Him  as  the  chief  corner-stone. 


Part      Second. 


ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES, 


uttr  II  ^jjrm0!i 


RICHARD   H.   STEELE,   D.D. 


ANNIYERSART   EXERCISES. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Consistory  of  the  First  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  of  E"ew-Brunswick,  JS".  J.,  held  April  llth,  1867,  the 
pastor  stated  that  the  church  would  complete  the  one  hundred 
and  fiftieth  year  of  her  history  during  the  present  season. 
Whereupon,  the  following  action  was  unanimously  adopted  : 

"  Resolved,  That  we  hereby  express  our  devout  thanksgiving 
to  God  for  the  establishment  and  preservation  of  this  church 
during  so  long  a  period,  and  that  the  event  be  celebrated  with 
suitable  commemorative  religious  exercises. 

''''Resolved,  That  we  cordially  invite  all  who  have  been  as- 
sociated with  our  church,  or  who  are  interested  in  our  history, 
to  unite  with  us  on  the  interesting  occasion  of  the  celebration 
of  our  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary. 

"  Resolved,  That  our  pastor,  Rev,  Richard  H,  Steele,  be  in- 
vited to  deliver,  on  the  day  which  shall  be  appointed,  a  his- 
torical discourse,  commemorative  of  the  founding  of  this  Chris- 
tian church," 

The  committee  who  were  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the 
arrangements  for  the  occasion  selected  Tuesday,  October  1st, 
for  the  proposed  celebration.  The  day  of  the  anniversary  was 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  season.  The  invitation  which 
had  been  circulated  brought  together  hundreds  of  the  friends 
of  the  church  and  former  members  of  the  congregation,  to 
unite  with  us  on  this  commemorative  occasion. 

MOENESTG   EXERCISES. 

At  ten  o'clock,  the  venerable  church  edifice,  which  had 
been  tastefully  decorated  for  the  occasion  with  evergreens 
ornamented  with  flowers,  was  filled  with  a  laro;e  congres-ation. 


140  AXXIVERSARY   EXEKCISES. 

The  2:)ortrait3  of  Drs.  Ira  Condict,  John  Ludlow,  and  Jacob 
J.  Jancw^ay,  former  pastors  of  the  church,  were  suspended  be- 
hind the  pulpit.  In  the  centre  was  a  painting  of  Dr.  John 
H.  Livin2:ston,  beneath  which  was  a  drawins;  of  the  old  stone 
church  erected  in  1767,  on  the  site  of  the  present  edifice.  At 
the  right  and  left  of  the  pulpit  were  placed  the  figures  1717 
and  1867.  Around  the  gallery  were  ^splayed  the  names  of 
the  twelve  pastors  of  the  church.  Over  the  pulpit  was  in- 
scribed the  motto,  "  The  Lord  our  God  be  with  us  as  he  was 
with  our  fathers."  In  front  of  the  orchestra  was  the  appro- 
priate sentence,  "  Praise  ye  the  Lord." 

The  pulpit  was  occupied  by  the  pastor,  Itev.  Isaac  Per- 
ris,  D.D.,  Rev,  Gabriel  Ludlow,  D.D.,  and  Rev.  Thomas  Do 
Witt,  D.D. 

Besides  these,  the  following  clergymen  were  noticed  in  the 
audience :  Rev.  Drs.  Berg,  Woodbridge,  John  De  Witt,  Dema- 
rest,  Campbell,  Sears,  Kip,  Ilageman,  Cole,  Du  Bois.  P.  D. 
Yan  Cleef,  C.  C.  Yan  Cleef,  See,  B.  C.  Taylor,  W.  J.  R.  Tay- 
lor, Proudfit,  and  Stryker ;  and  Rev.  Messrs.  Ten  Eyck,  Brett, 
Corwin,  W.  11.  Steele,  Alonzo  Peek,  Lloyd,  Bodine,  Yan 
J^este,  Swain,  Willis,  Buckelew,  Le  Fevre,  P.  Q.  Wilson, 
Manley,  Peter  Quick,  Ward,  F.  Wilson,  C.  Wyckofi",  A.  Y. 
Wyckoff,  David  Yan  Doren,  A.  M.  ^uick,  Enyard,  H.  P. 
Thompson,  Hartranft,  D.  A.  Jones,  McKelvey,  Suydam,  Riley, 
Doolittle,  and  Phraner,  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  ;  Rev. 
Dr.  Devan,  of  the  Baptist ;  Rev.  Dr.  Boggs,  of  the  Episcopa- 
lian ;  Rev.  Jacob  Cooper  and  Rev.  Robert  Proudfit,  of  the 
Presbyterian ;  and  Rev.  Messrs.  Lawrence  Dunn  and  Thorn, 
of  the  Methodist. 

The  religious  services  commenced  with  an  invocation  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Ludlow,  who  also  read  the  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-second  Psalm.  A  select  piece  was  then  sung  by  the 
choir,  after  which  prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  Dr.  Ferris.  The 
following  hymn,  written  for  the  occasion  by  Rev.  Peter  Stry- 
ker, D.D.,  was  then  sung : 


AXXIVEESARY   EXERCISES.  141 

CELEBRATION   HYMN. 

TcNE — Varina. 

A  HUNDRED  j^ears  have  come  and  gone, 

And  fifty  more  have  flown, 
Since  Thou,  O  Lord  !  this  church  ordained. 

And  called  this  flock  thy  own. 
The  men  who  then  were  in  their  prime, 

And  children  in  their  bloom. 
With  myriads  more,  who  since  have  lived. 

Are  sleeping  in  the  tomb. 

Time,  on  its  rapid  flowing  tide. 

Sweeps  all  our  race  away  ; 
Pastors  and  people  seek  the  dust, 

And  buildings  show  decay. 
But  'mid  the  wrecks  of  hoary  time 

The  church  securely  stands. 
Increasing  only  with  its  age. 

And  sending  forth  its  bands. 

And  now,  0  God  !  we  crowd  thy  gates  ; 

We  join  in  psalms  of  praise  ; 
With  angels  and  the  host  redeemed 

Our  fervent  songs  we  raise. 
We  give  Thee  thanks  for  blessings  past ; 

We  plead  for  grace  to  come  ; 
Oh  !  lead  us  in  our  future  course, 

And  bring  us  safely  home  ! 

Cojnc,  Holj^  Spirit,  like  the  dew, 

And  fertilizing  showers. 
That  fall  on  Ilermon's  lofty  peak, 

And  Carmel's  blooming^  flowers. 
0  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, 

Visit  this  flock  to-day  ! 
Be  thou  their  God  for  centuries  yet, 

Their  Everlasting  Stay. 

The  Historical  Discourse  contained  in  the  preceding  pages 
was  then  delivered  by  the  pastor,  after  which  the  following 
ode,  written  for  the  occasioil  by  Professor  David  Mnrraj,  was 
suno; : 


142  ANNIVERSARY   EXERCISES. 


Tune — Auld  Lang  Syne. 

All  honor  to  the  names  of  those 
Who  first  these  regions  trod, 
And  in  God's  fear,  here  sought  to  rear 
This  Zion  of  our  God. 

Chorus. — Let  hearts  be  glad  and  lips  rejoice 
At  what  we  see  to-daj^ ; 
With  organ  peal  and  living  voice 
Unite  our  thanks  to  pay. 

With  brave  old  Holland  hearts  they  crossed 

Through  ocean's  wave  and  wind  ; 
And  naught  of  trust  in  God  they  lost, 

Nor  left  their  faith  behind. 
Chorus. — Let  hearts,  etc. 

Here  in  the  wilds,  they  sought  to  raise 

An  altar  to  their  God  ; 
And  train  their  children  in  the  ways 

In  which  their  fiithers  trod. 
Chorus. — Let  hearts,  etc. 

And  while  they  plowed  with  zeal  and  thrift, 

And  filled  their  barns  with  corn  ; 
They  sought  from  God  the  better  gift 

Each  evening  and  each  morn. 
Chorus. — Let  hearts,  etc. 

From  Heidelberg  and  Dort  they  brought 

The  dear  old  creed  and  psalm  ; 
And  with  their  quaint  old  music  broke 

The  wilderness's  calm. 
Chorus. — Let  hearts,  etc. 

Through  all  these  years,  what  burdening  fears 

Have  here  besought  relief ! 
Here  sorrowing  saints  have  dried  their  tears. 
And  soothed  away  their  grief. 

Chorus. — Then  let  our  hearts  and  lips  rejoice. 
And  cheerful  music  raise  ; 
With  organ  peal  and  living  voice, 
Give  God  his  due  of  praise. 

The  morning  services  were  concluded  with  the  benediction 
by  Rev.  Thomas  De  Witt,  D.D. 


ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES,  143 

111  the  old  conrt-liouse,  adjoining  the  church,  the  ladies  of 
the  congregation  had  prepared  a  bountiful  collation,  to  which 
the  hundreds  of  friends  who  were  in  attendance  on  the  anni- 
versarj  were  invited. 

AFTEKNOON   EXERCISES. 

At  three  o'clock,  the  audience  again  assembled  in  the 
church,  Avhen  the  services  vfere  opened  by  an  aj)propriate 
voluntary  by  the  choir. 

The  venerable  Eev.  Thomas  De  Witt,  D.D.,  having  been  in- 
vited to  preside,  made  the  opening  address. 

He  expressed  the  pleasure  he  had  enjoyed  in  listening  to  the 
thoroughly -prepared  discourse  commemorative  of  the  history 
of  this  ancient  church  by  its  pastor.  It  is  the  mother  church 
of  many  in  the  adjacent  field,  which  has  ever  been  so  interest- 
ing and  valuable  a  portion  in  our  Reformed  Dutch  Church. 

The  name  of  the  first  Dominie,  Frelinghuysen,  is  well 
known,  not  only  in  the  annals  of  our  own  church,  but  also  in 
those  of  the  religious  history  of  our  country.  Dr.  De  Wift 
remarked  that,  not  many  years  ago,  he  found  in  the  hands  of 
a  Hollander  a  volume  entitled,  "  Life  and  Letters  of  Sicco 
Tjadde."  Tjadde  was  a  devoted  and  successful  minister  in 
Friesland.  He  had  been  written  to  in  reference  to  procuring 
a  minister  for  the  early  settlements  in  ISTew-Jersey.  The  cir- 
cumstances connected  with  the  acquaintance  he  gained  with 
Mr.  Frelinghuysen  shed  light  upon  the  character  he  sustained 
of  great  spirituality  of  mind,  close  evangelical  preaching,  and 
entire  fidelity  and  faithfulness.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  this 
volume  was  not  secured  at  the  time.  It  contains  several  let- 
ters between  Mr.  Frelinghuysen  and  Tjadde,  after  his  removal 
to  America.  A  powerful  revival  attended  Mr.  Frelinghuysen's 
labors,  the  fruits  of  which  are  noticed  by  Tennent  and  Presi- 
dent Edwards  as  existing  previous  to  the  great  revival  under 
"Whitefield.  Salt  was  then  spread  around,  which  still  is  found, 
not  having  lost  its  savor.  Dominie  Frelinghuysen  had  a  par- 
ticular friend  of  his  early  days — Dorsius,  of  the  German  Ee- 
forraed  Church,  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania — and  a  helper 
to  him  in  revival  scenes.    They  each  of  them  received  classical 


144  ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES. 

students,  and  several  of  tlie  American  ministers,  as  Goetcliius, 
YerLrj'ck,  Thomas  Eomeyn,  etc.,  were  educated  under  Mr. 
Frelingliuysen.  The  subject  of  creating  an  academy  was  early 
advocated  before  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam,  without  any  action 
resulting.  After  the  disruption  of  the  churclies,  in  1755,  into 
Coetus  and  Conferentie,  on  the  question  of  independent  eccle- 
siastical judicatories  and  the  education  and  training  of  our 
mhiistry  here,  in  1758  Rev.  Theodorus  Frelinghuysen,  of  Al- 
bany, son  of  the  elder  Frelinghuysen,  was  commissioned  to 
Holland,  to  labor  for  the  erection  of  a  college,  by  obtaining 
the  consent  of  the  judicatories  in  that  country.  He  was  lost 
at  sea  on  his  return.  Ecclesiastical  recognition  was  refused, 
until  Dr.  Livingston,  pursuing  his  studies  in  Holland,  re- 
turned with  the  olive  branch,  and  the  breach  was  healed. 
This  was  the  same  year,  1770,  when  the  charter  of  Queen's 
College  was  obtained. 

Dr.  De  Witt  then  referred  to  Dominie  Leydt,  who  is  first 
heard  of  in  Dutchess  county,  near  one  of  the  congregations 
over  which  he  was  placed  in  his  early  ministry.  The  testi- 
mony of  aged  persons  with  whom  he  conversed  represented 
him  as  of  great  respectability  of  character,  and  honored  by  the 
church  and  community.  He  took  a  leading  part  in  the  Coetus 
controversy,  and  published  two  or  three  pamphlets.  Dr.  Har- 
denbergh  was  from  one  of  the  most  distinguished  families  in 
Ulster  county,  not  far  from  the  place  of  Dr.  De  "Witt's  na- 
tivity. During  the  years  of  his  ministry  at  Marbletown  and 
Eochester,  in  that  county,  he  was  the  pastor  of  his  mother's 
family.  The  uniform  testimony  given  by  those  acquainted 
with  him  there  exhibits  him  in  the  same  character  of  mental, 
spiritual,  and  official  excellence  which  rendered  him  so  dis- 
tinguished in  New-Jersey. 

In  1810,  when  Dr.  Livingston  removed  from  Xew-York  and 
opened  the  Theological  Seminary,  Dr.  De  Witt  entered  it,  and 
had  the  privilege  of  being  received  into  the  family  of  the  Kev. 
Dr.  Condict,  and  had  thus  an  opportunity  of  forming  an  esti- 
mate of  his  character.  With  little  of  animal  spirits,  and,  per- 
haps, in  the  depth  of  his  humility,  inclined  to  despondency, 
there  was  a  uniform  breathing  of  deep  piety.  His  counsels 
were  always  wise,  and  marked  with  practical  sound  sense. 


ANNIVERSARY   EXERCISES.  145 

His  preucliing,  witlioiit  brilliancy,  was  always  sound,  instruc- 
tive, and  experimental.  At  tins  time.  Queen's  College  had  been 
revived,  and  he  was.  the  acting  President.  He  stood  among 
the  most  distinguished  in  the  church  for  faithful  and  useful 
labors  in  the  revival  of  the  College.  In  the  summer  of  1811, 
he  was  seized  with  violent  disease.  During  the  progress  of 
the  sickness,  his  soul  was  in  conflict  as  to  his  spiritual  state. 
On  the  night  of  his  death,  when  it  was  supposed  he  was  sink- 
ing fast,  he  aroused,  and  spoke  calmly,  deliberately  :  "  Jesus  is 
mine,  and  I  am  his.  I  know  whom  I  have  believed.  lie 
giveth  me  the  victory."  On  the  Sabbath  following  the  death 
of  Dr.  Condict,  as  the  work  of  pulling  down  the  old  church 
had  commenced.  Dr.  Livingston  preached  a  sermon  in  the 
Presbyterian  church  on  the  text,  "  I  am  the  God  of  Bethel," 
which  was  one  of  the  most  powerful  he  ever  preached.  His 
allusion  to  the  cotemporaneous  breaking  down  of  the  earthly 
tabernacle  of  Dr.  Condict  and  of  the  church  edifice  wherein 
he  had  labored  so  long  was  most  happy. 

ADDRESS    OF   REV.    SAMUEL   M.    WOODBRIDGE,    D.D. 

Dr.  Woodbridge  represented  the  Theological  Seminary,  and 
spoke  substantially  as  follows  : 

I  bring  to  this  venerable  church  the  salutations  of  the  most 
ancient  theological  seminary  in  America.  It  is  proper  we 
should  mingle  in  your  festivities  ;  for  not  only  have  the  inte- 
rests of  the  church  and  the  school  of  the  prophets  been  almost 
identical,  but  we  have  received  from  you  benefits  we  ought 
and  do  now  gratefully  acknowledge  in  the  name  of  genera- 
tions of  the  sons  of  the  prophets.  It  is  not  merely  that  you 
have  assisted  the  Seminary  pecuniarily,  nor  that  you  have 
given  two  of  your  pastors  to  be  its  professors,  but  that  to  your 
solemn  assembly  we  have  been  permitted  to  come  from  week 
to  week  to  gain  strength  for  the  duties  of  life,  and  to  ex^u-ess 
publicly  to  God  the  adoration  of  our  spirits.  For  there  is 
nothing  can  take  the  place  in  the  Christian  life  of  the  worship 
of  the  great  congregation  ;  no  private  study  or  meditation,  no 
instructions  in  the  lecture-room,  no  private  or  social  prayer. 
It  is  to  the  house  of  God  the  Christian  turns  when  he  would 
10 


140  ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES. 

find  rest,  and  here  lie  finds  the  special  snppl}'  for  the  great 
want  of  his  spiritual  nature.  Here  hundreds  of  our  ministry, 
perhaps  the  majority  of  those  now  living,  have  joined  in  praise 
and  supplication,  here  have  listened  with  gladness  to  the  sounds 
of  the  blessed  Gospel,  and  here  have  gathered  around  the  holy 
supper  to  commemorate  the  dying  love  of  the  Lord,  and  gone 
away  refreshed,  and  to  carry  the  influences  here  received 
throngh  all  future  life.  I  have  felt  for  years,  and  the  feeling 
increases,  that  we  can  hardly  overrate  the  influence  of  the  pastors 
of  these  churches  upon  the  students  who  look  to  them  as  living 
exemplars  of  what,  in  the  Seminary,  can  only  be  taught  as  the- 
ory; and  I  can  not  here  forbear  giving  testimony  (and  I  am 
sure  I  speak  the  sentiment  of  all  who  have  been  witnesses)  to 
the  faithfulness  of  that  servant  of  Christ  who  yet  lingers 
amongst  us,  and  who  for  thirty  years  ministered  to  this  peo- 
ple ;  and  I  am  sure  all  my  brethren  will  agree  in  saying  that 
never  have  we  seen  in  him  an  act  unbecoming  a  pastor  over 
the  flock  of  God,  nor  have  heard  from  him  a  sentiment  un- 
sound or  unevangelical.  But  the  church  has  also  received 
great  benefits  from  the  Seminary,  too  great  to  be  told.  Here 
its  professors,  one  after  another,  have  preached  the  AVord  of 
Life.  I  shall  never  forget  the  impression  made  upon  me  when 
I  first  entered  this  house  and  thouglit  of  the  eloquent,  and 
venerable,  and  godly  men  who  had  here  proclaimed  the  truth. 
It  seems  as  if  upon  these  walls  yet  lingered  the  echoes  of  their 
voices — tliH  voices  of  Livingston,  Schureman,  "Woodhull,  De 
Witt,  Ludlow,  Cannon,Yan  Vranken,  and  McClelland.  These 
stones  may  be  silent,  but  the  words  of  these  men  yet  resound 
in  living*  hearts. 

What  thoughts  arise  at  the  mention  of  a  hundred  and  fifty 
years  in  connection  witli  the  history  of  this  church  !  As  Dr. 
De  Witt  was  speaking  of  the  death  of  Dr.  Condict,  I  was  led  to 
think  of  the  iinioritten  history  of  the  Church  of  Christ.  How 
little  we  know  of  the  true  glory  of  the  church',  buried  out  of 
our  sight,  seen  only  by  the  eye  of  God  and  of  angels !  Those 
deep  experiences  of  the  saints,  those  inward  joys  and  griefs 
with  which  no  stranger  intermeddleth,  those  prayers  with 
strong  crying  and  tears,  those  triumphs  of  the  soul  over  fear, 
and  death,  and  hell — what  know  we  of  these  ?    We  see  but  just 


ANNIVERSAEY  EXERCISES.  147 

the  surface  of  tliis  great  ocean,  whose  depths  are  penetrated  bj 
the  eye  of  Him  who  searchetli  all  things.  How  glorious  must 
have  been  this  secret  history  for  a  hundred  and  fifty  years  ! 

"What  a  work,  too,  has  been  accomplished  here,  a  work  so 
wonderful  that  the  angels  have  gazed  upon  it  with  joy  and 
praise  !  The  arrest  of  the  sinner  on  the  path  of  death,  the  con- 
viction, the  illumination,  the  conversion,  the  repentance,  the 
faith  on  the  Son  of  God,  the  struggle  against  sin,  the  wres- 
tling of  the  soul  against  principalities  and  powers,  the  victory — 
who  can  doubt  angels  have  been  within  these  walls  anxious 
spectators  ?  A  greater  than  angels  has  been  here  in  the  midst 
of  his  brethren;  and  he  also,  who  on  the  day  of  Pentecost 
came  down  like  a  rushing  mighty  wind,  has  made  this  place 
awful  and  this  city  tremble  by  His  presence.  How  many  of 
those  now  in  their  graves  have  been  cheered  and  comforted 
here ;  and  this  leads  us  to  think  of  the  close  connection  of  the 
earthly  and  the  heavenly  church.  The  living  and  the  dead  are 
one  in  Christ,  nay,  the  dead  are  the  living.  "We  have  sometimes 
regretted  that  our  cemeteries  are  being  so  removed  from  the 
churches.  There  is  a  beauty  in  the  spectacle  of  the  graves  by 
the  house  of  God,  as  if  signifying  that  the  church  has  not  lost 
its  interest  in  those  reposing  in  the  dust.  They  are  still  citi- 
zens in  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  that  glorious  kingdom  which 
disregards  death,  extending  into  the  heaven  of  heavens,  and 
in  its  vast  circumference  taking  in  the  general  assembly  and 
church  of  the  first  born,  and  the  spirits  of  the  just  made  per- 
fect, reaching  also  to  our  poor  world  and  embracing  the  mise- 
rable and  fallen,  the  trembling  sinners  who  seek  refuge  in 
Jesus. 

And  we  are  reminded,  too,  of  the  perpetuity  of  the  churchy 
Our  fathers,  where  are  they  ?  and  the  prophets,  do  they  live 
forever?  The  fathers  are  gone,  but  instead  of  the  fathers  are 
the  children.  The  church  can  not  perish,  because  God  is  her 
life.  Human  associations  rise  and  pass  away,  but  the  society 
of  Jesus,  by  a  few  simple  appointments  of  her  divine  head, 
sends  down  her  name  and  principles  from  generation  to  gene- 
ration. In  her  history  a  century  and  a  half  is  but  a  brief 
period.  She  counts  her  years  by  thousands.  Arts,  codes  of 
laws,  kingdoms  perish,  the  earth  may  be  removed,  and  the 


148  ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES. 

mouiUains  carried  into  tlie  mitlst  of  tlie  sea,  but  the  city  of 
God  remaiiietli. 

ADDRESS    OF   KEV.    CHARLES    S.    IIAGEMAN,    D.D. 

Dr.  Ilageman  represented  the  ministry  that  had  been  reared 
by  tliis  church.  In  a  feeling  and  impressive  manner  he  de- 
scribed the  scene  wlien  thirty  years  ago  he  stood  here  and 
gave  himself  to  God  and  to  the  ministry  of  reconciliation,  and 
gave  some  interesting  incidents  connected  with  the  great  re- 
vival which  shook  the  city  and  brought  so  many  into  the 
church,  when  so  many  of  his  class  were  converted  and  dedi- 
cated themselves  to  the  ministry.  He  alluded  to  the  ability, 
the  fidelity,  and  zeal  of  the  former  pastor  of  this  church,  (Dr. 
How,)  and  to  others  who  had  preceded  him,  to  illustrate  the 
influence  of  the  ministry,  and  to  show  the  influence  of  this 
church ;  that  the  fires  that  had  been  kindled  upon  this  altar 
had  burned  upon  many  other  altars  lighted  by  those  who  had 
gone  from  this  church ;  that  by  her  ministry  she  had  exerted 
an  influence  both  in  church  and  state  which  could  not  be  fully 
known.  The  influence  of  a  ministry  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
3'ears  was  inconceivable ;  that  such  men  as  Frelinghuysen  and 
Leydt  had  prepared  the  way  for  the  establishment  of  our  in- 
stitutions, and  of  civil  and  religious  liberty;  that  they  had 
been  faithful  to  the  cause  of  their  country,  had  labored  ardu- 
ously and  successfully  for  God,  and  their  country,  and  human- 
ity during  the  Revolution,  and  others  with  their  spirit  had 
battled  nobly  for  truth,  and  justice,  and  liberty  in  the  conflicts 
of  later  days,  and  helped  to  free  it  from  oppression. 

He  hesitated  not  to  aflirm  that  the  state,  with  her  illustrious 
Dames  of  senators,  governors,  statesmen,  owed  more  to  the 
ministry  for  the  welfare  of  the  country  than  she  would  ac- 
knowledge. 

Some  of  these  men  had  lived  j^revious  to  the  establishment 
of  our  literary  and  theological  institutions ;  before  the  great 
benevolent  enterprises  of  the  church  were  undertaken ;  they . 
prepared  the  way  for  them,  and  indeed  made  their  organiza- 
tion necessary. 

He  referred  to  the  fact  that  no  record  had  been  found  to  in- 
dicate the  burial-place  of  the  first  pastor  of  the  church,  as  an 


ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES.  149 

illustration  of  tlie  neglect  witli  wliicli  great  men  are  sometimes 
treated. 

One  of  tlie  striking  results  of  tlie  labors  of  some  of  tliese 
pastors  was  that  many  young  men  were  induced  to  enter  the 
ministry.     In  this  respect  tliey  were  worthy  of  our  example. 

lie  said  that  the  influence  of  the  ministry  that  had  gone 
forth  from  the  church  was  inconceivable.  To  have  some  idea 
of  it,  it  would  be  necessary  to  collect  together  those  who  had 
been  saved  by  them,  all  the  kind  words  spoken,  the  hearts 
comforted,  the  minds  impressed  and  directed;  to  look  into  the 
golden  censer  and  see  the  prayers  offered  by  them,  to  see  the 
harvest  from  the  good  seed  sown,  and  even  to  look  within  the 
vail  to  those  redeemed  and  saved  through  this  ministry.  The 
influence  of  a  faithful  ministry  was  cumulative,  like  the  rising 
sun  culminating  in  noontide  glory,  like  the  flowing  tide  increas- 
ing in  volume  and  strength  until  it  overflows  the  strand. 

Tie  urged  his  brethren  to  thank  God  and  take  courage,  for 
though  ministers  died  and  passed  away,  yet  the  Lord  lived  and 
his  church  would  triumph, 

ADDKESS    OF   REV.    WILLIAM   H.    CAMPBELL,    D.D. 

Dr.  Campbell,  President  of  the  College,  said : 
I  find  the  meaning  of  this  day's  exercises,  as  well  as  the  war- 
i-ant  for  them,  in  Psalm  48 :  12-14,  "  Walk  about  Zion,  and 
go  round  about  her :  tell  the  towers  thereof,  Mark  ye  well 
her  bulwarks,  consider  her  palaces ;  that  ye  may  tell  it  to  the 
generation  followins;.  For  this  God  is  our  God  forever  and 
ever :  he  will  be  our  guide  even  unto  death," 

In  obedience  to  the  command,  we  have  walked  about  this 
Zion ;  we  have  gone  round  about  her  for  the  hundred  and  fifty 
years  of  her  history,  we  have  told  her  towers,  marked  well  her 
bulwarks,  and  considered  her  palaces.  And  now  in  view  of 
it  all  we  cry,  "We  have  thought  of  thy  loving  kindness,  O 
God,  in  the  midst  of  thy  temple."  ''  Out  of  Zion,  the  perfec- 
tion of  beauty,  God  hath  sinned."  It  is  emphatically  a  histo- 
ry of  divine  loving-kindness.  And  with  grateful  hearts  and 
strong  confidence  in  a  covenant-keeping  God  this  church  will 
tell  to  generations  following  what  God  has  done  for  them,  and 


150  ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES. 

will  assure  the  children  and  the  children's  children  that  this 
God,  who  has  done  all  these  great  things  for  the  fatliers,  is  our 
God  forever  and  ever ;  he  will  be  our  guide  even  unto  death. 

And  now,  in  a  word,  what  has  God  done  so  signally  for  this 
church  ?  What  are  these  towers,  bulwarks,  and  palaces  which 
he  has  here  erected  ?  Let  us  have  definite  notions  on  this 
point,  for  indeliniteness  here  will  be  imparted  to  our  thankful- 
ness, and  to  all  the  experiences  and  duties  which  are  founded 
upon  it. 

And  the  great  noteworthy  fact  in  this  history  of  a  hundred 
and  fifty  years  is  this  :  God  has  made  this  church  a  nnifomi 
attestant^  in  doctrine  and  life,  of  the  truths  for  the  teaching,  of 
which  he  founded  the  church. 

The  great  purpose  of  the  founding  of  the  church  is  given  by 
Zechariah,  in  the  fourth  .chapter  of  his  prophecy.  The  sym- 
bol of  the  golden  candlestick,  with  its  seven  branches  and  its 
seven  times  seven  pipes  for  the  full  supply  of  the  oil  of  illu- 
mination, teach,  that  the  church  is  to  shed  abroad  the  light  of 
divine  truth  in  the  world ;  and  the  "  two  anointed  ones,"  (verse 
fourteen,)  denoting  Joshua  the  high-priest  and  Zerubbabel  the 
king,  the  two  official  ones  of  the  theocracy  at  the  time  of 
the  vision,  symbolize  the  two  great  doctrines  of  religion — the 
high  priest  Joshua  symbolizing  the  atoirernent,  the  divinely  ap- 
pointed sacrifice  for  sin  ;  and  Zerubbabel  the  king  symbolizing 
the  doctrine  of  obedience,  in  other  words,  the  sanctif  cation  of 
those  for  whom  atonement  had  been  made.  These  two  truths 
are  the  great  doctrines  for  the  dissemination  of  which  the 
church  was  founded.  And  here  for  a  hundred  and  fifty  years, 
in  the  pulpit  and  in  the  life  of  this  church,  these  two  doctrines 
have  been  nniformly,  persistently,  unceasingly  held  up  to  the 
world.  Here  hundreds  and  thousands  have  heard  these  truths, 
and  witnessed  the  influence  of  them,  and  been  blessed  by  the 
preaching  and  example.  All  the  life  of  this  church  has  been 
spent  in  exhibiting  these  truths  and  in  furthering  the  influence 
of  them.  What  church  can  show  such  a  galaxy  of  pastoi"s  as 
this?  They,  twelve  in  number,  from  Frelinghuysen  down, 
may  be  fitly  called  the  twelve  apostles  of  this  church. 

It  was  for  the  furtherance  of  these  two  great  truths  that 
Queen's,  now  Rutgers,  College  was  founded.     The  thought  of 


ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES.  151 

the  College  originated  "witli  Frelinghnysen,  tlie  pastor  of  this 
churcli,  and  the  thonglit  was  carried  out  and  made  a  fact  by 
Dominie  Leydt,  Dr.  Condict,  Dr.  Ilardeubergh,  and  all  the 
others.  And  the  College  was  placed  here  rather  than  else- 
where just  because  this  church  was  here,  and  because  the  Col- 
lege was  the  natural  outgrowth  of  the  life  of  this  individual 
church.  And  whatever  Rutgers  College  now  is  or  may  here- 
after become  it  owes,  in  large  measure,  to  this  churcli,  just 
as  the  child  owes  its  future  well  being  to  the  parent,  Kev.  T. 
J.  Frelinghuysen,  as  I  have  already  said,  conceived  the  idea  of 
the  College.  And  you  have  heard  from  the  Historical  Dis- 
course of  your  pastor,  delivered  this  day,  what  the  pastors 
Leydt,  Hardenbergh,  Condict,  and  Schureman,  and  the  others 
did  for  it.  This  church  gave  the  time  of  Drs.  Ilardeubergh 
and  Condict  as  instructors  in  the  College ;  it  has  always  given 
money  liberally  for  its  endowment  and  prosperity.  On  the 
last  effort  for  its  endowment  the  work  began  in  this  church. 
Dr.  How,  the  pastor,  presented  the  subject  to  the  people  on 
the  Sabbath  morning  and  declared  that  the  success  of  the 
measure  depended  upon  what  the  members  of  the  Dutch 
churches  in  iSTew-Brunswick  thought  of  the  College  and  did 
for  it.  He  said  the  College  must  have  a  recommendation  from 
our  churches  in  New-Brunswick  in  form  of  a  large  subscrip- 
tion to  endowment,  or  it  could  not  succeed.  Then  on  the  next 
day  he  called  on  you  at  your  houses,  and  you,  as  well  as  him- 
self, did  give  nobly.  And  as  Dr.  How,  your  pastor,  and  you, 
the  people,  then  did,  so  your  pastors  and  this  people  have  ever 
done  for  the  College  from  the  beginning  down  to  the  present 
day.  And  all  this  has  been  done  that  Christ,  the  atoning  sac- 
rifice for  sin,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  sanctifier  for  pardoned 
sinners,  might  be  known,  believed  on,  and  everywhere  influen- 
tial. And  thus  the  great  purpose  far  which  the  College  was 
founded  was  to  hold  up  these  two  great  truths. 

How  great,  then,  the  influence  of  this  church  !  Dr.  Thomas 
De  Witt,  a  few  moments  since,  compared  that  influence  to  a 
river.  The  figure  is  eminently  scriptural.  How  beautifully 
and  clearly  is  all  this  brought  to  view  in  EzekieFs  vision  of 
the  Holy  Waters,  (chapter  47.)  The  prophet  sees  waters  issu- 
ing forth  from  the  house  of  God,  and  they  pass  along  at  the 


152  ANNIVEESARY  EXERCISES. 

south  side  of  tlie  altar  of  atonement.  Xow,  these  "waters  are 
the  streams  of  influence  for  good  which  go  forth  from  God's 
house  and  God's  people.  Their  flowing  forth  from  the  sanc- 
tuarj^  and  in  such  close  proximity  to  the  altar  of  burnt  offer- 
ing, shows  not  only  the  source  whence  the  influence  comes, 
but  also  the  only  ground  upon  which  any  influence  can  be 
availino;  for  g-ood ;  it  must  stand  in  the  closest  connection  with 
the  atoning  sacritice  of  Jesus  Christ.  Mark,  too,  the  growth 
of  the  stream.  At  a  thousand  cubits  from  their  source  the 
waters  reach  to  the  prophet's  ankles,  a  thousand  cubits  fur- 
ther they  reach  to  his  knees,  a  thousand  cubits  further  they 
reach  to  his  loins,  a  thousand  cubits  further  and  the  waters 
had  become  a  river  which  the  prophet  could  not  pass  over';  the 
waters  had  risen  and  had  become  waters  to  swim  in.  How 
vast,  then,  the  growing  intluence  of  good  men !  Mark,  too,  the 
effects  of  these  constantly  augmenting  waters.  They  flow  on 
in  full  stream  to  the  Dead  Sea,  the  Sea  of  Sodom — that  spot 
which,  above  every  other  on  earth,  stands  as  the  symbol  of 
spiritual  death  and  of  the  wrath  of  God.  And  as  soon  as  the 
full  stream  reaches  the  desolate  spot,  all  revives.  The  waters 
of  the  Dead  Sea  are  healed,  they  abound  with  fish,  and  men 
spread  their  nets  from  town  to  town  upon  its  once  more  thick- 
ly populous  shores. 

How  striking  and  beautiful  is  this"  lesson  ot  the  prophet ! 
The  influence  of  the  church,  exemplifying  in  teaching  and  life 
the  renewing  and  sanctifying  doctrines  of  Christ,  shall  convert 
the  spots  of  earth  where  spiritual  death  reigns  into  a  para- 
dise of  God.  Such  is  the  history  of  this  church  which  you  are 
to  tell  to  the  generation  following,  assuring  them  that  "  this 
God  is  our  God  forever  and  ever ;  He  will  be  our  guide  even 
unto  death." 

ADDRESS   OF   REV.    P.   D,    VAX    CLEEF,   D.D. 

As  we  follow  the  history  of  the  church  of  God,  we  seem  to 
be  tracing  the  course  of  some  noble  river  as  it  rises  in  a  clear 
mountain  spring,  and  rolls  on  through  rocky  gorges  and  ver- 
dant meadows,  fertilizing  every  land,  and  bearing  upon  its 
bosom  rich  argosies  freighted  with  the  happiness  and  the  hopes 


ANKIVERSAKY   EXEKCISES.  153 

of  humanity.  The  history  of  each  eongres^ation  resembles 
that  of  the  church  at  large,  and  is  marked,  both  in  its  origin 
and  progress,  by  the  same  "wonderful  providences.  "Witli  deep 
interest  and  devout  thankfulness  we  have  followed  your  be- 
loved pastor  this  morning,  as  he  piloted  us  along  the  course  of 
this  tributary  of  the  great  river  of  life.  We  have  rejoiced  in 
the  shade,  and  have  been  refreshed  by  the  fruit  of  the  trees 
that  lined  its  banks.  This  stream,  like  the  famous  river  of 
Egypt,  has  diverged  into  numerous  branches,  which  have  irri- 
gated many  a  harvest-field.  One  of  tliese  water-courses  it  has 
been  made  my  pleasiug  duty  to  explore,  and  I  bring  you  some 
of  the  fruits  found  growing  in  the  fields  it  has  fertilized. 

We  have  heard  of  the  long  line  of  pastors  who,  for  the  space 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  years,  have  served  this  church.  Let 
me  speak  of  those  who  have  been  converted  under  their  minis- 
Iry,  and  have  gone  forth  to  perpetuate  their  iufluence.  In  this 
way  we  may  gain  some  conception  of  tlie  moral  forces  that 
liave  been  developed  here  during  five  generations.  The  influ- 
ence of  this  church  has  no  geographical  limit.  Tlie  world  has 
been  its  field.  The  good  it  has  done  is  not  to  be  estimated  by 
the  number  who  have  gone  from  this  sanctuary  to  swell  the 
redeemed  throng  before  the  throne  of  God  and  the  Lamb. 
IIow  often  have  ans-elic  messeno;ers  ascended  to  heaven  with 
glad  tidings,  as  one  after  another,  j^arent  and  child,  through 
successive  generations,  has  been  born  into  this  household  of 
faith,  and  taken  his  place  at  the  sacramental  table,  and  become 
a  light  in  the  world,  and  a  grain  of  salt  to  spread  the  savor  of 
a  godly  life.  But  how  grandly  that  idea  of  influence  looms 
np  when  we  remember  that  nearly  fifty  young  men,  admitted 
to  their  first  communion  here,  have  gone  into  the  world  to 
preach  the  everlasting  Gospel.  Some  of  them,  doubtless,  had 
been  trained  in  youth  under  other  faithful  pastors  ;  but  here 
they  first  publicly  gave  themselves  to  Christ. 

It  can  not  be  out  of  place  on  this  memorable  day  to  recall 
the  names  of  our  brethen  who,  though  absent  in  body,  many 
of  them,  are  with  ns  in  spirit.  The  following  list  includes 
only  those  who  were  received  on  confession  of  faith.  (For  a 
list  of  members  who  have  gone  from  this  church  to  preach 
the   Gospel,  see  Appendix  Y.)     There  are  nearly  as  many 


154:  AXNIVEIISARY   EXERCISES. 

more  wlio  were  members  by  certificate  at  the  time  of  their 
licensure  ;  for  at  one  ])eriod  the  most  of  our  graduates  Mere, 
for  the  sake  of  convenience,  licensed  by  the  Classis  of  New- 
Brunswick. 

Many  of  tliese  have  ceased  from  their  labors  on  earth ;  the 
remainder,  with  a  few  exceptions,  occasioned  by  age  or  phy- 
sical disability,  are  actively  employed.  Time  M-ill  not  permit 
me  to  speak  of  all  these  brethren  and  fathers.  I  must  recall  the 
name  of  one,  however,  who  was  cut  off  in  early  life.  Abraham 
Y.  Wyckoff  was  a  child  of  this  church.  Amiable,  studious,  and 
consistent,  he  was  beloved  by  all.  Ilis  examination  for  ordi- 
nation took  place  at  the  same  time  with  my  own,  before  the 
Classis  of  Greene,  within  the  bounds  of  wdiich  he  spent  the 
greater  portion  of  his  ministr}-,  which  it  pleased  the  Master  to 
limit  to  six  short  years,  when  he  was  called  to  receive  his 
crown. 

And  now  pause  and  reflect  upon  the  influence  that  has  gone 
forth  from  this  church  through  the  sons  she  has  given  to  the 
ministry.  The  average  ministerial  career  of  thirtj^-sixof  these 
2^astors  is,  up  to  this  time,  twenty-three  years,  and  the  aggre- 
gate, eight  hundred  and  twenty-four  years.  They  have  pro- 
bably preached  a  hundred  thousand  sermons,  and  have  been 
instrumental  in  bringing  many  others  into  the  ministry.  And 
yet  how  feeble  the  conception  we  can  gain  from  all  this  of  tlie 
power  of  a  single  church  among  the  moral  forces  which,  under 
Providence,  control  the  destinies  of  the  world. 

But  the  sons  of  this  church  have  been  called  to  other  posi- 
tions. Four  of  them  have  filled,  and  three  are  now  occupying 
professorial  chairs.  Others  have  carried  the  Gospel  to  the 
heathen.  The  records  of  the  churc'li  are  adorned  with  the 
names  of  David  Abeel,  Frederick  B.  Thompson,  and  AVilliam 
H.  Steele.  These  were  the  men  who  hazarded  their  lives  for 
the  Gospel.  The  first  was  the  pioneer  missionary  of  our 
church  to  the  Chinese  Empire,  and  the  others  remained  and 
labored  on  the  island  of  Borneo  until  the  last  hope  of  estab- 
lishing our  mission  there  had  expired.  Yet  they  labored  not 
in  vain.  The  Dyak  people  were  not  converted  and  made  a 
Christian  nation,  as  we  fondly  hoped ;  but  may  we  not  in- 
dulge the  pleasing  thought  that  at  least  one  Dyak  voice  shall 


ANNIVERSARY   EXERCISES.  155 

at  last  mingle  witli  the  hundreds  and  thousands  from  China  in 
the  everlasting  song  of  the  redeemed  ;  that  some  will  rise  up 
from  the  Archipelago,  as  well  as  from  the  Celestial  Empire, 
to  bless  this  church,  and  to  bless  the  men  who  carried  the  Gosjjel 
to  benighted  Asia  ?  Thus  this  church  has  spread  like  the  great 
banyan  tree  of  the  East.  A  branch  has  stretclied  across  the  con- 
tinent and  taken  root  in  the  fertile  soil  of  the  West.  Another 
has  reached  over  the  ocean  and  rooted  itself  in  the  eastern 
hemisphere.  These  spring  up,  and  in  their  turn  take  root 
again;  and  thus  the  process  will  go  on  until  all  the  living 
churches  of  God  shall  have  intertwined  their  spreading 
branches,  and  formed  one  vast  tree  of  life  under  Avhich  the 
nations  shall  find  a  shelter. 

It  would  be  interesting  to  know  by  what  steps  God,  in  his 
]3rovidence,  has  conducted  each  of  his  servants  into  the  minis- 
try, I  can  not  speak  for  others,  but  may  be  pardoned  for  say- 
ing that,  in  reviewing  the  chain  of  providences  that  led  me  to 
become  a  minister,  the  link  that  I  recall  most  distinctly  was  a 
simple  question  from  my  pastor,  the  Eev.  Dr.  How,  when,  a  Sab- 
bath-school scholar,  during  the  precious  revival  of  183Y,  I  was 
examined  for  admission  to  the  communion  of  this  church.  He 
said,  "  Have  you  thought  that  you  would  like  to  study  for  the 
ministry  ?"  I  could  give  no  direct  answer,  but  the  words 
dropped  like  seed-corn  in  the  soil  of  memory  and  reflection, 
and  they  germinated  and  grew  into  a  desire,  and  then  ripened 
into  a  purpose  to  preach  the  Gospel.  Oh  !  how  much  a  faithful 
pastor  can  do,  by  the  most  simple  and  easy  methods,  to  kindle 
a  desire  for  usefulness  in  the  young  heart,  and  how  great  the 
debt  of  gratitude  he  has  a  right  to  claim  from  those  whom  he 
has  instrumentally  led  into  the  gospel  ministry.  I  take  plea- 
sure to-day  in  recognizing  this  obligation  to  my  former  vene- 
rated pastor,  to  whose  repeated  conversations  in  his  study  I 
was  so  much  indebted,  when,  with  unwearied  kindness,  he  in- 
structed me,  removed  my  doubts  and  difficulties,  and  threw 
the  light  of  wisdom  and  experience  on  my  path. 

Pardon  this  personal  digression.  Do  not  weigh  in  the  bal- 
ances of  cold  propriety  words  forced  from  the  lips  by  the 
gushing  memories  of  the  past,  those  "  happy,  golden  days," 
when  even  the  sky  seemed  brighter  and  the  earth  greener 


156  ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES. 

after  tlic  reviving  showers  of  tlie  Holy  Spirit.  Who  can  for- 
i!;et  a  revival,  when  associated  with  the  memories  of  his  early 
Christian  life  and  love?  'Who  can  forget  the  communion  Sab- 
baths that  dawned  so  beautiful  and  bright?  I  recall  one  of 
them.  It  was  a  lovely  September  morning,  in  1S37.  Memory 
brings  back  the  crowded  congregation  ;  the  trenmlous  voice  of 
Elder  Stothoff,  as  it  rose  from  this  platform  and  mingled  with 
the  swelling  volume  of  song  that  filled  the  sanctuary  with  the 
fragrant  incense  of  praise ;  the  earnest  prayer  ;  the  rich  gospel 
sermon  ;  the  old  sacramental  form,  so  redolent  of  Calvary  and 
Gethsemane;  the  long  list  of  names  of  those  welcomed  for  the 
first  time  to  the  table,  and  niine  among  them  ;  and  then  the 
bread  and  wine  touched  with  trembling  hands  and  quivering 
lips ;  the  words  of  exhortation  ;  and  the  hymn  of  thanksgiving. 
My  vision  of  that  sacramental  Sabbath  would  not  be  complete 
without  the  tall  form  of  gray-haired  Cnesar  leading  the  large 
number  of  colored  communicants  from  the  gallery  up  the  aisle 
to  the  table,  where  our  pastor  welcomed  them  with  the  same 
invitation  to  the  gospel  feast.  And  I  used  to  think  he  some- 
times kept  his  best  thoughts  for  them,  and  his  words  were  so 
simple  and  touching  as  he  spoke  of  the  dear  Saviour  avIio  pro- 
mised that  all  his  people  should  drink  with  him 

"  The  grape's  first  juice, 
Fresh  from  the  deathless  vine  that  blooms  in  heaven." 

But  I  must  close.  Let  me  leave  as  a  theme  for  reflection, 
The  self •j)erpetuating power  of  the  church  throifgh  the  ministry 
which  she  is  raising  wp.  You  remember  the  incident  of  the 
conversion  of  a  Hessian  drummer-boy,  under  a  sermon  of  Dr. 
Livingston,  in  a  barn  at  Poughkeepsie  during  the  Revolution. 
That  boy  was  Cliristian  Bork,  under  whose  ministry  John 
Scudder  was  converted,  the  father  of  our  beloved  missionaries 
in  India.  Let  the  church  remember  the  promises  of  enlarge- 
ment and  triumph  which  Christ  has  left  her,  and  never  forget 
his  command  to  "  pray  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  that  he  would 
send  forth  laborers  into  his  harvest." 

"  He  who  slumbereth  not  nor  sleepeth, 
His  ancient  watch  around  us  keepeth  ; 


ANNIVEKSAEY  EXERCISES.  157 

Still  sent  from  his  creating  hand, 
New  witnesses  for  truth  shall  stand — 
New  instruments  to  sound  abroad 
The  Gospel  of  a  risen  Lord." 

ADDRESS    OF   KEV.    D,    D.    DEMAEEST,   D.D. 

I  feel  lionored  in  having  been  selected  to  present  on  tliis 
occasion  the  salutations  of  the  churches  that  have  been  organ- 
ized chiefly  v.-itli  members  from  this  venerable  congregation. 
The  daughters  come  "with  hearty  and  joyous  greetings  to  their 
mother,  and  on  this  her  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  birthday 
anniversary  compliment  her  on  her  continued  freshness  and 
beauty,  and  the  proofs  she  is  giving  of  undiminished  vitality 
and  energy.  They  come  with  prayers  tliat  God  will  bless  her 
as  she  has  never  been  blessed  before,  and  that  in  the  time  to 
come  many  daughters  may  be  born  to  her  who  sliall  rise  up 
and  call  her  blessed. 

A  little  band  of  three  sisters  appears  to-day.  1.  Spotswood, 
organized  about  the  year  1820,  and  so  approaching  the  close  of 
her  first  half-century.  A  church  that,  owing  to  the  force  of 
circumstances  beyond  human  control,  has  never  reached  a 
point  that  entitled  her  to  be  called  a  strong  and  influential 
church.  Yet  she  has  been  a  steadily  shining  light.  Through 
all  these  years  she  has  perse veringly  maintained  the  public 
worship  of  God,  and  furnished  healing,  rest,  and  a  home  for 
many  a  sick  and  burdened  and  wandering  souh  The  little 
band  of  disciples  there  are  to-day  proving  the  reality  of  their 
spiritual  life  by  zealous  and  self-denying  efforts  in  the  erection 
of  a  new  house  of  worship. 

2.  Middlebush,  organized  about  thirty-three  years  ago,  and 
which  has  given  the  ordinances  to  a  generation.  Faithfully 
have  all  who  have  there  worshiped  been  instructed  and 
warned,  and  well  have  the  young  there  been  trained  in  the 
doctrines  of  godliness  and  in  the  spirit  and  forms  of  devotion. 
!N^obly  has  the  church  of  Middlebush  done  according  to  her 
ability  for  the  work  of  church  extension  by  her  regular  and 
liberal  contributions  to  the  cause  of  missions.  She  is  now  re- 
pairing and  beautifying  her  house  of  prayer. 

3.  Second  New-Brunswick,  organized    early  in  1843,  and 


15S  ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES. 

consequently  M-itliin  a  few  months  of  tlic  end  of  tlie  first  quar- 
ter-century of  her  life.  Of  the  feeble  beginnings  of  this  church, 
of  her  early  struggles,  of  the  devotion  and  perseverance  of  her 
founders,  I  would  love  to  speak  if  it  were  proper.  Yet  I  can 
not  allow  the  occasion  to  pass  without  bearing  testimony  to 
the  purity  of  the  motives  of  those  who  went  forth  from  this 
church  to  form  that  new  organization.  They  loved  their  old 
home  none  the  less  because  of  their  attachment  to  the  new.  I 
would  also  love  to  indulge  the  feelings  stirred  up  by  memories 
and  associations  connected  with  the  most  interesting  portion 
of  my  own  early  ministr3^  Surely  I  may  to-day  mention  with 
gratitude  that  for  eight  and  a  half  years  I  was  permitted  to 
labor  in  cordial  cooperation  with  the  faithful  servant  of  God 
who  so  long  ministered  at  these  altars,  and  who,  having  fin- 
ished his  public  work,  is  now  waiting  for  his  crown.  We  re- 
ficret  his  bodily  absence  to-dav.  We  thank  God  that  he  is 
present  in  spirit.  We  call  to  remembrance  the  former  times, 
and  we  all  rejoice  together  in  the  prosperity  of  that  young 
and  vigorous  church.  From  her  contracted  tabernacle,  dear 
to  some  of  us  as  the  ])lace  where  the  few  were  wont  to  meet, 
she  has  gone  forth  into  her  spacious  and  beautiful  edifice,  in 
which  we  hope  that  many  will,  through  many  generations,  be 
born  into  the  kingdom. 

I  wish  that  I  could  speak  in  behalf  of  a  larger  band  of  sis- 
ters. But  it  is  not  for  me,  and  on  a  day  like  this,  even  to  hint 
that  there  should  have  been  a  larger  family.  It  is  not  for  mc 
to  intimate  that  within  the  limits  of  the  territory  originally 
solely  occupied  by  this  church  there  is  room  for  more  of  her 
order,  or  that  Providence  has  clearly  indicated  a  path  of  duty 
that  has  been  shunned.  On  the  contrary,  I  believe  that  there 
are  laws  that  govern  the  multiplication  of  churches  in  this 
land  that  carry  themselves  into  effect.  We  have  no  State 
authority  to  regulate  this  matter,  no  geographical  division 
into  parishes  fixed  by  law.  We  usually  do  not  even  look  to 
ecclesiastical  bodies  to  take  the  initiative.  Wherever  and 
whenever  Christian  people  feel  that  there  is  a  time  and  place 
for  a  new  church,  they  M'ill  move  in  the  matter,  asking  only 
the  countenance  and  authority  of  those  who  are  over  them  in 


ANNIVERSARY   EXERCISES.  159 

the  Lord,  and  the  sympathy  and  prayers  and  Christian  help 
of  those  from  among  whom  they  go. 

I  Avill  go  further,  and  utter  an  earnest  protest  against  tlie 
lieedless  and  unreasonable  censures  that  are  often  brought 
against  our  fathers  for  having  been  so  slow  to  extend  the  de- 
nomination and  organize  new  churches,  and  for  suffering  the 
ground  to  be  occupied,  by  others.  Ignorance  is  the  most 
charitable  excuse  for  such  censures.  Let  any  one  study  the 
history  of  the  struggles  of  our  church  for  more  than  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  years  to  maintain  an  existence  in  this  country  in 
the  face  of  tremendous  and  overwhelming  difficulties,  and  he 
will  admire  the  perseverance  and  rejoice  in  the  success  of  the 
fathers.  Extension  !  Progress  !  Formation  of  new  churches ! 
Why,  the  question  was  one  of  life,  not  of  growth  ;  of  holding 
fast,  not  branching  out.  Let  any  one  but  consider  the  speedy 
passing  away  of  the  Dutch  authority  from  ISTew-Netherland 
and  the  check  to  immigration,  the  obstinate  adherence  to  the 
Dutch  language,  ecclesiastical  dependence  on  the  mother  coun- 
try, difiiculty  of  obtaining  ministers,  troubles  of  Coetus  and 
Oonferentie,  and  he  will  prate  no  more  about  the  slow  and 
deliberate  movements  of  the  fathers.  And  how  can  any  one, 
in  view  of  these  hindrances,  say  that  it  is  disgraceful  that  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church  is  not  now^  the  leading  church  among 
nearly  a  million  of  people  in  the  city  of  E^ew-York,  because 
two  hundred  years  ago  she  stood  alone  in  New-Amsterdam  a 
Dutch  village  of  1500  inhabitants,  one  tenth  the  present  size 
of  our  little  city  of  New-Brunswick  ? 

Besides,  it  is  the  glory  of  our  land  that  no  denomination  has 
the  right  of  preemption  or  preoccupancy  to  any  part  of  the 
soil.  "VVe  have  religious  liberty.  A  church  long  established 
may  not  forbid,  one  of  another  order  to  spring  up  by  its  side. 
There  is  room,  it  is  true,  for  Christian  courtesy  and  charity, 
especially  among  those  essentially  alike,  which  should  prevent 
an  unnecessary  multiplication  of  feeble  churches.  But  how 
can  it  be  otherwise  than  that  in  places  of  importance  all  the 
leading  denominations  should  be  represented,  no  matter  which 
was  first  on  the  ground  ?  A  church  should  look  after  the 
members  of  its  own  household ;  but  how  can  it  expect  to 
bring  under  its  care  those  whose  preferences  are  in  other  direc- 


160  ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES. 

tions?    I  for  one  say,  let  lis  rejoice  in  the  dwelling  together  of 
Presbyterians,  Baptists,  Episcopalians,  Methodists,  Iieformed 
Dutch,  and  give  tlianks  for  tlie   practical  proof  that  there 
can  be  unity  of  spirit  and  aim  where  there  is  diversity  of  form. 
If  our  own  church  be  small  among  these  divisions  of  the  sac- 
ramental host,  let  us  remember  that  an  eloquent  Methodist 
brother,  now  in  glory,  has  called  us  the  heavy  artillery,  •which 
part  of  an  army  is  always  small  in  numbers  in  proportion  to 
the  weight  of  metal  thrown  by  it  into  the  ranks  of  the  enemy. 
But  the  time  for  progress  and  extension  has  come,  and  there 
is  a  wide  iield  before  us.     Instead  of  blaming  the  fathers,  let 
us  ask  ourselves  what  are  we  doing.     As  the  spokesman  for 
new  churches,  I  am  here  the  representative  of  progress.     Our 
doctrines  and  order  should  spread  among  the  American  peo- 
ple.    We  have  a  work  to  do  for  Christ.    We  must  not  sell  our 
birthright.     We  must  improve  it.    Growth  is  essential  now  to 
life.     This  church  is  sound  in  the  faith  on  that  point.     Her 
sons  are  at  work  in  heathen  lands  and  in  our  western  domain. 
Shall  she  not  also  look  nearer  home  ?    Shall  she  not  ask.  What 
could  be  a  more  fitting  memorial  of  these  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years  than  a  church  rising  in  some  portion  of  our  city 
where  needed,  where  tlie  members  of  our  own  household,  sent 
forth  with  our  blessing  and  help,  may  worship  God  according 
to  the  customs  of  the  fathers  ? 

During  the  exercises  Prof.  David  Murray  read  the  following 
poem,  which  he  contributed  to  the  occasion : 

"THE  OLDEX  TIME." 

'Tis  good  for  our  pride 

To  throw  things  aside — 
The  business  and  pleasures  to  whicli  we  are  tied, 
The  burdens  we  carry,  the  hobbies  we  ride, 
The  projects  we  form,  and  the  plans  wo  have  tried — 
And  linger  an  hour,  or  even  a  da}^, 
O'er  the  records  of  things  which  have  passed  away ; 
Bring  out  the  old  papers  and  family  scraps, 
Overhaul  the  old  boxes,  and  bureaus,  and  traps, 

And  if  3'ou  can  bear  it, 

Poke  round  in  the  garret. 
Bring  down  the  old  love-letters,  in  which  long  ago 
Our  sainted  old  grandmothers  conclusively  show 


ANNIVERSARY   EXERCISES.  161 

That  they  used  to  make  love  in  that  earlier  day 

Very  much,  after  all,  in  the  modern  way. 

Then  while  you  are  at  it,  go  empty  the  barrel 

Which  holds  some  Dutch  ancestor's  best  Sunday  apparel ; 

And  trig  yourself  out  in  his  coat  and  his  hat, 

And  his  best  Sunday  waistcoat,  be  careful  of  tliat ; 

'Tis  not  to  be  sneezed  at,  although,  like  enough, 

It  may  still  hold  a  scent  of  the  old  fellow's  snuff. 

Be  sure  try  his  breeches 

Of  a  length  that  just  reaches 
Adown  to  the  knee,  whence  a  stocking  so  neat 
Completes  the  remainder  down  to  the  feet. 

And  then,  if  you  choose, 

You  may  try  on  his  shoes. 
And  have  them  well  polished  before  put  in  use. 
And  rub  up  the  buckles  with  the  least  bit  of  leather. 
For  copper  will  tarnish  in  this  sort  of  weather. 
Then  he  wore  down  behind  a  long,  slender  cue. 
Tied  up  in  an  eelskin  with  ribbon  of  blue. 
Which  looked  all  the  world,  folks  have  profanely  said, 
Like  a  frying-pan  handle  stuck  on  his  head. 
Go  look  in  the  glass  in  this  fancy  old  rig. 
And  if  you  are  not  a  conceited  3'oung  prig, 
I  am  sure  you  will  own  that  old  Diedrich  then 
Was  not  such  a  bad-looking  specimen. 

Now  when  we've  begun, 

Why,  under  the  sun. 
Can't  we  go  a  bit  further,  and  just  make  a  run 
On  our  grandmother's  bandbox  and  presses, 
And  bring  out  from  thence  a  few  of  her  dresses? 
By  the  by,  she  was  noted  a  belle  in  her  day. 
And  quite  turned  the  heads  of  the  men,  they  say ; 
And  even  Lord  Howe,  the  British  commander, 
Is  said  to  have  sat  by  her  side  and  fanned  her. 
But  good  Dame  Katrina  quite  stirred  up  his  dander 
By  marrying  Diedrich,  whom  he  thought  a  gander. 

Let  one  of  these  damsels  I  hold  in  my  eye 
Be  pleased  just  for  once  these  dresses  to  try. 
And  show  us  Katrina  in  Sunday  attire 
All  ready  to  walk  to  the  church  with  our  sire. 

This  lilac  brocade, 

With  bright  silver  braid, 
Ah !  this  will  become  you  now  to  a  shade, 
A  little  bit  faded,  but  what  of  that  ? 
A  little  too  full,  for  Dutch  dames  were  fat ; 
11 


162  ANNIVERSARY   EXERCISES. 

But  a  very  good  dress,  notwithstanding  that, 
And  fit  to  adorn  the  queen  who  sat 
At  Solomon's  feet  to  hear  hitn  chat. 
You  will  see  it  is  short,  and  meant  for  the  street, 
And  did  not  quite  cover  Dame  Katrina's  feet; 
For  who  so  cruel  would  try  to  hide 
Those  bright  silver  buckles,  Katrina's  pride  ? 
Now  try  on  this  bonnet, 
And  depend  upon  it. 
You  will  cut  a  figure  when  you  once  don  it.. 
But  first  you  must  add  a  few  inches  more 
To  the  height  your  waterfall  had  before ; 
And  one  "heart-breaker"  must  hang  down  behind, 
To  be  played  with  and  tossed  by  the  wanton  wind. 
Then  put  on  the  powder,  and  do  not  spare, 
For  Katrina  was  proud  of  her  golden  hair. 
Now  on  with  this  "  coal-scuttle,"  large  and  wide. 
With  good  broad  ribbons  securely  tied. 
"Why,  bless  your  heart,  there's  enough  of  that, 
If  only  the  stuff  were  spread  out  flat. 
To  make  a  good  dozen,  as  large  as  the  mat 
AVhich  ladies  now  wear,  and  call  a  hat. 

Good  Diedrich,  he  was  grave  and  stout. 
And  his  wife  was  nowise  thin  ; 

And  a  dimpled  smile  kept  playing  about 

.    The  good  little  woman's  chin. 
And  on  Sunday  morn,  when  the  church-bell  rang. 
They  always  started  when  they  heard  its  clang; 
And  walked  to  church  like  a  godlj'  pair, 
While  bright  little  Volkert,  their  son  and  heir, 
Went  trotting  before,  and  always  were  there 
A  good  many  minutes  before  the  first  prayer. 
Good  Diedrich  took,  in  the  winter  weather, 
A  foot-stove  of  tin,  well-soldered  together. 
And  filled  with  water  at  a  boiling  heat. 
To  protect  from  the  cold  their  freezing  feet. 
On  very  cold  days,  as  a  very  great  treat, 
It  served  little  Volkert  as  a  nice  warm  seat. 
Where  the  boy  might  be  broiled  like  a  piece  of  meat. 
For,  remember,  that  no  one  ever  hears 
Of  a  stove  in  a  church  back  a  hundred  years, 
Still  less  of  a  furnace,  or  as  it  would  seem, 
Of  even  a  patent  for  heating  by  steam. 

The  church  was  old,  the  church  was  queer ; 
Would  you  like  to  look  in  on  the  Sabbath-day, 


ANNIVEKSARY   EXERCISES.  163 

And  witness  their  strange,  old-fiishioned  gear. 
And  gather  a  hint  of  the  ancient  way  ? 
The  walls  were  plain,  the  roof  was  square, 
The  carpets — ah !  well,  they  were  not  there ; 
And  the  pews — of  course,  they  were  better  bare, 
For  cushions  were  deemed  a  carnal  affair. 
In  the  centre  aisle  the  bell-rope  hung. 
Where  the  sexton  stood,  when  he  puffed  and  rung ; 
And  the  people  said  he  was  cross  as  a  bear 
If  anj''  one  jostled  against  him  there. 
And  the  boys  in  the  pews  had  a  wholesome  fear 
Of  Johannes's  anger,  when  he  was  near. 
At  the  pulpit-front  the  vorsinger  stood — 
His  nose  was  large  and  his  voice  was  good — 
And  he  pitched  his  tune  as  he  pitched  his  hay, 
To  the  right  and  left  in  a  frantic  wny. 
And  the  old  Dutch  psalms  made  the  welkin  ring, 
For  Dutchmen  are  strong  when  they  come  to  sing. 

But  the  pride  of  the  church,  the  glory  of  all, 
"Was  the  pulpit  which  towered  against  the  wall. 
'Twas  set  so  high,  said  the  wits  of  the  town, 
For  the  preaching  was  heavy,  and  would  settle  down. 
Like  an  egg-cup  it  stood  on  a  narrow  base, 
While  the  good  old  dominie  held  the  place 
Of  the  spoon  in  the  empty  shell, 

To  stir  in  the  pepper  and  salt,  and  he  stirred  them  well. 
Over  his  head  a  sounding-board  hung. 
Like  a  vast  extinguisher,  above  him  swung, 
Ready  to  fall  and  put  out  his  light, 
As  candles  are  quenched  at  dead  of  night. 
AVill  somebody  put  a  contrivance  so  neat 
Directly  over  each  congressional  seat. 
So  that  Colfax  then  by  pulling  a  string 
Might  the  noisy  men  to  silence  bring  ? 

Well  to  the  front  the  deacons  sat, 
All  in  a  goodly  row. 

Grave  and  sober,  and  generally  fat, 
With  linen  as  white  as  snow. 
Gravely  they  sat  till  the  sermon  was  done, 
Then  gravely  they  rose  for  their  task,  one  by  one ; 
And  taking  the  bags  from  where  they  had  been. 
Passed  them  to  gather  the  pennies  in. 
Each  bag  was  hung  to  the  end  of  a  pole, 
And  a  little  bell  swung  beneath  the  whole, 
Whose  tinkling  might  serve  the  sleepers  to  wake 
From  the  nice  little  naps  they  sometimes  take. 


IGl  ANNIVERSARY   EXERCISES. 

There,  look  for  a  moment  and  admire  tlie  style 

Of  him  who  is  gathering  the  middle  aisle. 

Hear  the  tinkling  bell  and  his  creaking  shoes, 

As  he  passes  along  among  the  pews. 

Back  in  his  garden,  j'esterdaj'^  night, 

You  might  have  seen  him,  while  it  was  light, 

Practicing  over  his  work  for  to-day, 

Reiiearsing  the  part  he  would  have  to  play. 

Armed  with  an  oven-swab,  there  he  goes, 

Passing  it  up  and  down  the  rows, 

Giving  to  each  big  cabbage-head  there 

An  equal  chance  to  deposit  his  share. 

Do  )'0u  wonder  now  at  the  exquisite  style 

Of  the  deacon  doing  the  middle  aisle  ? 

We  commend  the  example  to  others,  too ; 

Have  you  a  task  that  is  hard  to  do  ? 

Into  the  garden-plat  haste  to  repair, 

And  try  it  first  on  the  cabbage-heads  there. 

Time  can  strengthen,  time  can  kill; 

Things  will  last,  though  men  will  die ; 
While  the  house  is  lasting  still. 

Graves  about  it  scattered  lie. 

Generations  here  grow  gray ; 

Others  flourish  ia  their  stead; 
Pastors  perish,  people  lay 

Here  their  kindred  dead. 

But  the  church  in  fiiith  holds  on. 

Stronger  with  its  growing  age ; 
Proud  to  point  to  records  gone, 

Eager  yet  to  add  a  page. 

Let  another  fifty  years  go  by  ; 

What  shall  then  its  record  be  ? 
Call  a  meeting  then  and  try. 

And  may  we  be  there  to  see. 

Brief  addresses  were  also  delivered  by  Eev.  B.  C.  Taylor 
D.D.,  Eev.  David  Cole,  D.D.,  Eev.W.  li.  Ten  Eyck,  and  Eev! 
P.  D.  Oakey. 

On  motion  of  Eev,  Dr.  Cole,  it  was  resolved  that  the  meet- 
ing deeply  appreciate  the  excellent  Historical  Discourse  deliv- 
ered by  Eev.  Dr.  Steele  this  morning,  and  that  the  Consistory 


ANXIVERSAEY  EXERCISES.  165 

of  tliis  cliurcli  be  requested  to  secure  the  same  for  publica- 
tion. 

Prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  Peter  D.  Oakey,  and  after  sing- 
ing tlie  Doxology  tlie  benediction  was  pronounced  b}'  Pev.  Dr. 
Taylor,  of  Bergen. 

EVENING  EXERCISES. 

The  evening  exercises  were  opened  with  a  voluntary  by  the 
choir,  after  which  the  forty-eighth  Psalm  was  read,  and  prayer 
ofiered  by  Rev.  Prof.  Joseph  F.  Berg,  D.D. 

The  congregation  then  united  in  singing  the  following  hymn, 
written  for  the  occasion  by  Rev.  John  B.  Steele  : 

"THE   THIRD  JUBILEE." 

Tune— "^a^tvy's  ChanV 

1.  The  silver  trump  of  jubilee 

The  pastors  thrice  have  blo^'n, 
Since  first  a  royal  priesthood  laid 
Our  Zion's  cornci'-stone. 

2.  The  pillar,  on  the  rocky  base 

Our  fathers  reared  of  old. 
Has  wide  displayed  the  truths  of  God — 
The  purest,  finest  gold. 

3.  From  year  to  year  the  altar's  fires 

Have  never  ceased  to  shine ; 
And  men  of  God  have  ever  stood 
"Within  our  holy  shrine. 

4.  The  Saviour  here  has  gathered  gems— 

His  jewels  rich  and  pure, 
To  shine  in  His  celestial  crown. 
Forever  to  endure. 

5.  A  cloud  by  day,  a  fire  by  night, 

Our  covenant  God  has  given: 
Beneath  the  folds  of  light  and  shade 
We  journey  on  to  heaven. 

fi.  On  this  good  day,  with  grateful  hearts, 
We  set  our  symbol  stone  ; 
And  look  to  God,  in  faith  and  hope, 
For  help  in  years  to  come. 


166  ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES. 

Kev.  Isaac  Ferris,  D.D.,  the  senior  ex-pastor  of  the  cliurch, 
then  delivered  the  following  address : 

ADDRESS    OF    REV,    ISAAC    FERRIS,    D.D. 

My  Respected  !Fkie:^ds  :  It  is  now  about  forty-six  and  one 
half  years  since  a  young  man,  twenty-two  and  one  half  years  old 
and  about  ten  months  from  the  Seminary,  assumed  the  pasto- 
ral charge  of  this  church  and  congregation,  then  embracing 
three  hundred  faniilies,  and  these  dispersed  over  an  area  five 
miles  square  ;  and  having  in  his  audience  three  professors,  and 
some  twenty-seven  theological  students,  earnest  young-  men 
with  cultivated  minds.  It  was  a  most  responsible  position  for 
such  an  one  to  occupy,  and  it  was  in  some  degree  realized,  and 
would  not  have  been  assumed  but  from  the  conviction  that  the 
finger  of  God  w^as  clearly  in  the  call,  which  came  as  unanimous 
from  a  people  who  had  been  disti'acted  for  years  by  a  dividing 
question,  in  whose  discussion  very  unhappy  feelings  had  min- 
gled. 

The  relation  continued  for  three  years  and  eight  months, 
and  was  broken  up  by  the  renewal  of  the  old  dividing  ques- 
tion. It  may  not  be  amiss  to  state  it  briefly,  as  it  is  a  thing 
of  the  past.  This  congregation  embraced  a  city  and  a  coun- 
try population.  In  the  settlement  of  a  minister  it  had  been 
the  usage,  from  the  founding  of  the  church,  to  have  the  second 
service  on  the  Sabbath,  during  the  summer,  occur  after  an  in- 
termission of  one  hour.  In  the  process  of  time  the  city  popu- 
lation grew  so  large  as  to  make  it  desirable  and  even  important 
to  have  the  service  fixed  at  an  hour  convenient  to  the  city 
(congregation,  and  as  were  the  services  of  other  churches. 
Strong  feeling  and  parties  arose,  each  claiming  what  they 
sought  as  a  right.  The  discussion  had  caused  the  resignation 
of  Rev.  Jesse  Fonda.  Dr.  John  Ludlow  did  not  encounter  it, 
as  his  pastoral  relation  continued  only  a  little  over  a  year. 
As  I  now  look  back  on  the  merits  of  the  case — indeed,  as  I 
then  thought — the  right  was  with  the  country  people,  but  the 
policy  was  with  the  city,  until  the  question  was  settled  in  the 
call  of  the  pastor.  In  the  call  of  my  successor  the  matter  was 
put  forever  at  rest.     The  subsequent  course  of  things  has 


ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES,  167 

proved  the  wisdom  of  this  final  action.  The  increase  of  pop- 
ulation to  any  important  extent,  as  was  expected  would  be, 
lias  been  in  town.  The  growling  families  here  have  been  pre- 
served to  the  original  fold.  And  now,  on  this  ground,  you 
have  two  large,  vigorous  churches,  wdiile  an  outgrowth  at  Mid- 
dlebush  has  constituted  a  blessed  church-home  to  the  more 
distant  families.  I  rejoice  in  the  prosperitj''  and  the  expand- 
ing usefulness  and  power  of  my  first  charge.  To  come  back 
to  this  spot  has  always  been  to  me  a  pleasure,  and  to  meet,  as 
I  have  always  done,  the  warm  greeting  and  cordial  good  wishes 
of  those  to  whom  I  had  ministered,  both  the  fathers  and  the 
children,  in  the  greenness  of  my  ministry,  is  among  my  most 
pleasant  memories.  The  fathers  have  gone,  and  the  children 
have  mostly  gone,  and  now  I  have  before  me  the  children's 
children,  and  to  them  I  submit  my  remarks  on  what  occurred 
in  their  fathers'  fathers'  day. 

A  ministry  of  three  years  and  eight  months  will  ordinarily 
furnish  few  events  of  special  moment,  and  their  tale  is  soon 
told.  But  I  feel  I  may  take  a  wider  range,  that  I  may  submit 
some  statements  concerning  the  honored  dead,  and  thus  pay 
my  tribute  to  those  whom  I  shall  never  again  see  in  the  flesh. 
My  thoughts  have  taken  this  direction  as  I  have  anticipated 
this  interesting  occasion :  that  I  would  first  notice  some  spe- 
cial points  during  my  ministry,  and  then  speak  of  my  hearers 
and  my  co-laborers. 

As  to  the  particular  events  referred  to,  let  me  speak  first  of 
the  additions  to  the  church.  It  pleased  God  to  give  me  early 
seals  to  my  ministry.  His  word  was  made  eliectual,  and  I 
was  permitted  to  hear  from  one  and  another  the  earnest  inqui- 
ry, "  What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved  ? "  Some  of  the  most  precious 
cases  occurred  in  connection  wnth  pastoral  visitations  and  spe- 
cial interviews  with  those  who  offered  their  children  for  bap- 
tism before  they  had  given  their  own  hearts  to  Christ. 

Among  the  early  accessions  was  that  of  David  Abeel,  the 
devoted  missionary.  With  his  religious  inquiries  I  had  nothing 
to  do ;  he  had  obtained  Christian  hope  in  the  winter  of  my 
settlement,  and  found  Dr.  Livingston  his  faithful  and  tender 
counselor.  But  we  were  brought  closely  together  in  his  early 
Christian  life,  and  it  was  my  privilege  to  advise  him  concerning 


168  ANNIVERSARY   EXERCISES. 

his  public  consecration  and  to  receive  liim  to  the  fellowship  of 
the  family  of  Christ.  Our  walk  together  was  very  pleasant, 
and  through  his  whole  life  we  were  dear  friends  and  coopera- 
tors  in  Christ's  work.  Very  pleasant  was  it,  in  tlie  second  and 
third  summers  of  my  settlement,  as  I  had  invited  those  who 
felt  an  interest  in  the  matter  to  come  together  every  Sabbath 
morning,  at  six  o'clock,  for  prayer  for  one  hour,  in  the  old 
Lancaster  school-house — very  pleasant  was  it  to  see  David,  with 
his  excellent  mother  and  sisters,  coming  over  the  hills  from 
their  rural  home  to  the  place  of  meeting ;  and  very  animating 
and  invigorating  were  those  meetings,  for  the  Master  crowned 
them  with  his  presence  and  blessing.  They  are  bright  spots  in 
memory. 

We  were  not  favored  with  what  would  be  called  revivals  ; 
but  we  had  times  when  the  dews  of  divine  srace  distilled 
sweetly  among  the  people.  On  several  occasions  we  received 
sixteen  to  the  communion  on  profession,  and  in  the  course  of 
three  years  and  a  half  seventy-eight,  with  thirty-two  by  cer- 
tificate, making  one  hundred  and  ten.  After  my  ministry  ter- 
minated, it  overwhelmed  me  to  hear  from  the  precious  maii 
and  devoted  missionarv,  Frederick  B.  Thompson,  that  the  word 
at  my  lips  had  been  made  the  word  of  life  to  his  soul. 

I  regard  it  with  interest  that  I  was-  the  first  pastor  who  in- 
stituted a  stated  and  regular  weekly  evening  lecture  in  our 
city  congregation.  As  there  was  no  church  lecture-room  at  the 
time,  through  the  kindness  of  the  proper  authorities  we  en- 
joyed the  use  of  the  Lancaster  School-house,  which  I  think 
was  one  of  the  early  buildings  of  Queen's  College.  The  excel- 
lent system  (which  I  have  never  ceased  to  admire)  of  having  a 
weekly  catechising  and  lectures  in  connection,  in  several  dis- 
tinct neighborhoods  in  succession,  throughout  the  congregation, 
was  in  use.  One  point  was  Poole's  Landing  ;  another.  Middle- 
bush  ;  a  third,  Three  Mile  Eun  ;  a  fourth  was  George's  Road 
Poorhouse ;  while  the  catechising  in  the  city  was  weekly. 
These  services  in  the  country  districts  were  attended  by  al- 
most every  person,  young  and  mature,  and  were  regarded  as 
hallowed  seasons.  Their  observance  had  the  eft'ect  for  genera- 
tions of  securing  an  amount  of  sound  Bible  knowledge  which 
gave  the  highest  character  for  Christian  intelligence  to  the 


ANNIVERSAEY  EXERCISES.  169 

people  of  Middlesex  and  Somerset  coiinties ;  for  tliey  constitu- 
ted the  prevailing  system  of  all  our  clinrclies  in  this  region, 
and  they  trained  the  most  faithful  church-going  population  I 
have  ever  seen.  The  work  of  the  pastor  became  increased,  but 
it  was  delightful. 

By  arrangement  with  the  Consistory,  one  sermon  on  the 
Sabbath  was  given  in  the  church  the  first  year  of  settlement ; 
but  the  country  and  city  lectures  made  three  preaching  ser- 
vices per  week.  The  second  year,  there  were  four  weekly ; 
while  funeral  sermons,  and  sermons  at  the  houses  of  sick  or  in- 
firm or  aged  persons  in  the  country,  made  them  not  unfre- 
quently  five.  One  not  actually  in  the  work  in  a  large  charge 
can  scarcely  realize  how  the  demands  for  service  press  a  will- 
ing man.  But  it  is  well,  for  it  is  the  Master's  work  ;  and  while 
a  man  is  in  health,  what  can  he  better  do  ?  As  for  myself,  I 
was  a  stranger  to  sickness  or  ailment  of  any  kind  at  that 
period. 

Another  circumstance  of  great  interest  at  the  time  was  the 
ftict  that,  in  compliance  with  my  desire  and  the  appeals  made, 
the  observance  of  the  Lord's  Supper  four  times  in  the  year  was 
introduced.  The  usage  had  been  to  celebrate  that  ordinance 
at  intervals  of  six  months.  On  this  subject  there  has  been  in 
a  lifetime  a  very  general  conformity  in  our  churches  in  a  quar- 
terl}'-  communion,  while  in  a  few  cases  a  change  has  been 
made  to  six  times  in  the  year. 

"When  we  consider  primitive  usage,  we  can  not  but  wonder 
that  there  should  have  been  so  great  a  deviation  from  that  ex- 
ample as  a  commemoration  once  or  even  twice  in  the  year. 
The  idea  of  frequency  is  distinct  in  the  words  of  the  institu- 
tion, and  it  should  be  such  as  to  maintain  at  the  same  time  the 
idea  of  the  hallowed  character  of  the  service. 

But  that  to  which  I  confess  I  look  back  with  great  satis- 
faction, as  most  importiint  to  myself  in  its  various  bearings, 
was  the  ground  publicly  taken  on  one  of  the  most  destruc- 
tive of  social  usages. 

In  the  fall  of  1820  occurred  the  suspension  from  his  minis- 
try, under  the  charge  of  intoxication,  of  one  of  our  most  dis- 
tinguished ministers  by  a  northern  Chassis.  He  was  reported 
the  most  accomplished  pulpit  orator  in  the  northern  part  of 


170  ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES. 

the  State  of  New- York — a  fine  scholar,  a  gentleman  of  very 
wide  influence.  His  fall  grieved  many  hearts,  while  it  broke 
np  his  pastoral  relations,  and  covered  his  later  life  with  a  dark 
shadow  from  which  he  never  emerged,  though  that  M-hich 
caused  it  had  been  corrected.  It  was  apparent  to  me,  as  a 
looker  on,  that  he  had  no  more  natural  appetite  for  strong 
drink  than  any  other  man,  but  was  the  victim  to  the  usages  of 
social  life — ruined  by  his  friends,  who  became  afterward  his 
accusers.  Every  man  of  any  position  had  his  sideboard  in  his 
parlor,  and  that  well  stocked  with  the  choicest  of  stimulants. 
Every  visitor  was  expected  to  take  his  sip  whenever  he  called. 
It  was  imgenteel — it  was  a  slight,  a  reflection — not  to  drink  a 
glass.  And  in  making  a  half-dozen  calls  in  the  course  of  two 
or  three  hours  and  taking  as  many  drinks,  how,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  was  an  appetite  formed.  Tlie  wonder  was,  not  that 
there  were  so  many  drunkards,  but  that  every  body  was  not 
such.  To  my  mind,  the  usage  was  horrible ;  and  my  determi- 
nation was,  wherever  I  settled,  on  the  first  public  exercise,  to 
relieve  myself  forever  from  compliance  with  the  tyrant  custom. 
ISTever  can  I  forget  the  scene.  This  sanctuary  was  crowded 
in  every  part,  as  there  was  great  curiosity  to  hear  tlie  first  ser- 
mon of  the  young  pastor  elect.  At  the  close,  with  the  case 
which  had  occurred  full  in  my  mind-,  and  which  I  stated,  I 
solicited  the  people  never,  under  any  circumstances,  to  ofi'er 
me  strong  drink,  and  not  to  consider  me  impolite  or  churlish 
if  I  peremptorily  declined,  should  they  forget  themselves. 

I  remember  well  how  the  smile  passed  at  my  expense  over 
the  face  of  the  whole  congregation.  It  was  a  bold  step  for  so 
young  a  man ;  but  it  was  most  importan4;.  It  was  shutting 
down  the  gate  of  access  to  a  course  which  has  been  ruinous 
everywhere.  It  made  its  impression  for  good,  as  it  fastened 
itself  upon  the  minds  of  my  people  from  its  jDeculiarity  and 
novelty.     Need  I  say  that  step  was  never  regretted  ? 

As  was  proposed,  let  me  give  some  sketches  of  my  hearers. 
It  may  be  said,  probably,  that,  as  are  a  man's  hearers,  such  is. 
his  ministry.  He  will  be  influenced  by  the  description  of  per- 
sons who  are  to  sit  in  judgment  on  his  performances.  The  in- 
telligent, the  cultivated,  the  discriminating  will  stimulate  the 
young  man  to  corresponding  efibrts.     Every  locality  which 


ANNIVERSARY   EXERCISES.  171 

has  public  institutions,  in  wliicli  and  around  wliicli  strong  and 
educated  men  cluster,  will  Lave  its  terrors  to  the  beginner  in 
public  services,  while  it  will  furnish  strong  encouragement  to 
fidelity  and  earnestness,  for  it  is  in  the  best  degree  apprecia- 
tive. 

It  was  my  privilege  to  have  as  my  constant  hearers  a  noble 
band  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  young  men  of  the  Theological 
Seminary,  quite  a  proportion  of  whom  was  near  my  own  age, 
whose  feelings  and  warm  interest  were  with  me.  Ours  were 
most  pleasant  relations,  as  I  was  so  recently  one  of  them.  How 
many  have  gone  to  the  grave,  having  done  a  good  work  for  the 
Master  !  A  small  proportion  remain,  and  they  have  become 
the  fathers  in  our  Israel.  Thus  we  pass  along,  class  after 
class,  to  various  fields,  encountering  the  wear  and  tear  of  life, 
but  never  losing  the  tenderness  of  that  tie  which  bound  us 
together  in  the  Theological  Hall  and  in  our  Christian  asso- 
ciations. I  said  noble  young  men.  Let  me  not  leave  an  im- 
pression that  I  look  upon  them  as  an  exception  par  excellence — 
by  no  means.  My  relations  to  the  Seminary  have  been  such 
as  to  bring  me  often,  in  the  intervening  years,  in  contact  with 
the  young  brethren  gathering  here  for  training  for  tlie  minis- 
try, and  my  opportunity  of  seeing  other  young  men  has  not 
been  limited;  and  I  say  unhesitatingly,  notwithstanding  in- 
sinuations in  some  quarters,  that  I  have  never  seen  a  higher 
class  of  mind  and  character  than  gathers  here  in  preparation 
for  ministerial  work. 

At  the  head  of  the  school  of  the  prophets  was  the  venera- 
ble and  venerated  Dr.  Livingston.  His  seat  was  always  here, 
at  the  head  of  the  elders'  pew,  and  he  was  ever  the  object  of 
interest  on  which  the  stranger  would  fix  his  admiring  gaze. 
He  presented  tlie  most  perfect  specimen  of  an  old  gentleman 
of  the  continental  school  of  a  hundred  years  ago  ;  rather  tall, 
fully  developed  in  i3hysical  system,  calm,  dignified  in  air,  yet 
affable,  bland^  with  his  flowing  white  wig  dropping  down  to 
his  coat-collar,  he  was  a  man  by  himself.  His  were  inex- 
haustible stores  of  knowledge,  showing  that  he  had  been  an 
intense  student,  comprehending  in  his  course  the  vast  fields  of 
science  and  literature  as  well  as  theology,  and  having  all  at 
command.     To  him  was  always  yielded  the  sermon  of  the  sac- 


172  ANXIVERSARY  EXERCISES. 

ramental  Sabbath  morning;  and  then  it  was  he  poured  forth 
the  riclies  of  his  evangelical  resources  and  his  sweet  Christian 
experience — touching,  warming,  thrilling  every  heart — making 
the  occasion  a  festival  indeed.  His  mode  of  sermonizing  was 
eminently  didactic  and  analytical,  turning  every  thing  in  his 
text  to  account.  Ilis  grand  peculiarity  in  the  pulpit  was  the 
large  illustration  of  his  subjects  by  voice  and  action.  In  this  he 
has  had  no  successor ;  some  have  attempted  its  imitation,  but, 
as  usual  in  such  cases,  they  have  been  miserable  failures.  To 
him  belongs  the  credit  of  giving  a  permanent  form  to  the  the- 
ological training  of  the  Seminary,  and  it  must  be  pronounced 
sound,  Biblical,  evangelical.  Its  results,  as  seen  in  our  minis- 
try, are  all  we  could  ask.  It  was  my  frequent  privilege  to 
accompany  the  doctor  in  his  walks,  and  it  was  always  delight- 
ful to  notice  the  respect  paid  him  by  all  classes  and  ages,  and 
especially  to  see  the  satisfaction  of  the  little  ones  where  we 
called,  as  he  laid  his  hand  on  their  heads  and  pronounced 
his  blessing  on  them.  Never  shall  I  forget  my  iirst  sight  ol 
him,  in  Albany  street.  It  was  in  the  spring  of  1819.  I  was 
then  contemplating  joining  the  Seminary  for  my  closing  year, 
and  was  here  to  witness  the  final  examination.  He  was  passing 
down  Albany  street,  and  reached  Mr.  Blauvelt's  house,  (noM' 
jSTo.  52,)  on  the  stoop  of  which  some  half-dozen  students  sat, 
who  lifted  their  hats  to  him.  With  peculiar  dignit}',  he  turned 
his  person  squarely  toward  them,  and  with  both  hands  took 
off  his  broad-brimmed  hat  and  bowed  his  whole  person.  To 
my  mind,  he  stood  as  the  personification  of  one  of  the  patri- 
archs. 

One  of  my  most  cherished  memories  is  that  I  enjoyed,  when 
I  left  this  charge,  his  warm  love  and  confidence,  and  received 
from  him,  in  his  own  beautiful  penmanship,  the  expression  of 
them.  It  was  the  last  time  I  saw  him,  as  soon  afier  he  slept 
in  Jesus. 

My  closing  year  in  the  Seminary  was  the  first  year  of  the 
professorship  of  Dr.  John  Ludlow,  who  was,  in  his  twenty- 
fifth  year — in  June,  1819 — elected  to  his  ofiice,  and  for  two 
years  was  a  hearer.  The  choice  of  so  young  a  professor  was 
deemed  a  remarkable,  while  it  was  proved,  by  the  result,  a 
most  wisej  proceeding.     Tlie   new  professor  was  not  to   be 


ANNIVEESARY   EXERCISES.  178 

judged  by  the  years  lie  liad  seen,  but  by  bis  mental  develop- 
ment and  strength  of  character,  and  these  gave  him  a  very 
marked  preeminence.  His  was  a  rare  case  of  maturity  of  mind 
at  that  age ;  and,  while  he  possessed  an  iron  constitution,  with 
his  experience  in  teaching  as  a  tutor  in  Union  College  he  was 
especially  fitted  for  his  work.  And  a  hard  work  it  was.  It 
seemed  a  giant's  burden,  and  manfully  he  bore  it. 

He  had  every  thing  to  prepare,  as  text-books  in  several  of 
his  departments  w^ere  few.     He  instituted  the  system  of  her- 
meneutical  and  exegetical  studies  in  the  Seminary,  and  gave 
a  character  to  that  branch  of  prcparatioTi  altogether  new  to 
our  students.     He  was  charged  with  teaching  Hebrew,  Greek, 
Church  History,  Church  Government,  Pastoral  Theology,  and 
Biblical  Analysis.     Day  and  night  he  was  engaged,  the  light 
in  his  study  being  the  last  extinguished  in  his  neighborhood. 
He  preached  occasionally,  and  then  it  was  with  the  power  of 
a  master.     His  manner  was  modeled  somewhat  after  that  of 
his  preceptor.  Dr.  Nott,  President  of  Union  College  ;  but  the 
clarion  voice,  and  the  piercing  eye,  and  the  energetic  gesture 
were  his  own.     He  was  not  emotional,  and  accordingly  his 
preferred  field  of  topics  was  that  involving  power  and  perhaps 
terror.      He  was  not  rhetorical,  in  the  sense  of  the  florid  and 
metaphorical,  but  very  plain  in  style;  his  words  just  what  ex- 
pressed his  thoughts — no  more,  no  less — the  right  word  used, 
and  always  in  the  right  place.     His  aim  evidently  was,  first, 
to  get  in  his  own  mind  a  definite,  clear  conception  of  a  sub- 
ject, and  then  to  present  it  in  the  most  direct  and  effective 
manner.     He  emerged  from  the  Seminary  an  orator  of  the 
first  degree,  and  as  long  as  he  preached  ex  tempore,  that  is, 
without  notes,  was  everywhere  acknowledged  such.     The  dis- 
tinguished Chancellor  Kent,  then  in  his  own  prime,  wiien  he 
heard  Dr.  Ludlow  in  the  pulpit,  at  Albany,  in  1822,  preach  on 
1  Cor.  1 :  22-21,  pronounced  it  the  most  commanding  j^ul- 
pit  eff'ort  he  had  ever  heard.     The  sermon,  as  an  intellectual 
production  and  an  exhibition  and  defense  of  the  Gospel,  was 
a  masterpiece. 

Dr.  Ludlow  was  a  wise  and  sound-minded  man,  possessing 
a  most  marked  balance  of  mind.  ISTo  man  saw  better  what 
belonged  to  a  given  occasion  or  could  better  unravel  what  was 


174  ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES. 

conflicting.  In  social  life  he  manifested  the  warmest  affections 
and  the  most  unyielding  fidelity  in  his  friendships.  His  were 
capabilities  for  the  most  responsible  trusts.  Had  he  been  a 
military  man,  he  would  have  been  one  of  the  great  captains  of 
the  age ;  had  he  devoted  himself  to  law,  he  would  have  taken 
rank  with  the  most  distinguished  jurists;  and  had  he  given 
himself  to  political  science,  he  would  have  won  renown  as  the 
first  of  statesmen.  AVhat  a  thought  it  is  that  this  man,  so  fitted 
by  nature  and  attainments,  was  forced  to  retire  from  the  posi- 
tion he  so  admirably  filled  here  by  the  want  of  funds  requisite 
for  the  support  of  a  second  professor ;  but  his  going  waked  up 
the  church  to  her  duty.  In  the  work  of  the  ministry,  in  the 
church  of  Albany,  he  won  a  great  reputation ;  in  the  University 
position  he  occupied,  at  Philadelphia,  he  made  his  mark  on 
every  class  with  which  he  had  to  do,  and  his  memory  is  che- 
rished most  tenderly.  He  was  truly  one  of  the  leading  minds 
of  our  church. 

A  few  months  only  elapsed  when,  having  been  chosen  to  sup- 
ply Dr.  Ludlovv-'s  place,  the  Eev.  John  De  Witt,  D.D.,  of  Alba- 
nv,  came  among  us,  truly  a  man  of  genius  and  finel}'^  cultivated 
taste  as  well  as  capital  scholarly  attainments.  His  had  not 
been  the  advantages  of  early  theological  culture,  as  those  now 
enjoyed,  but  he  had  made  up  for  all  by  most  assiduous  stud}'" 
of  the  best  authors  and  critics  of  the  day.  He  had,  in  Albany, 
in  the  Second  Church,  occupied  a  most  influential  position,  and 
called  around  him  a  large  and  very  devoted  people.  There  I 
was  his  hearer  for  a  large  portion  of  a  year,  and  there,  as  a 
temporary  dweller,  I  learned  to  love  the  doctrines  and  usages 
of  the  Dutch  Church ;  for,  though  brought  up  with  Dutch  boys 
as  my  daily  playmates  and  schoolmates,  in  New- York,  and 
hearing  the  tongue  almost  every  hour  spoken,  and  learning  to 
speak  it  in  a  degree,  I  had  never  crossed  the  threshold  of  a 
Dutch  Church,  as  "I  was  not  Dutch."  Dr.  De  Witt  soon  made 
himself  felt  in  the  Scminar}'^  and  in  the  town.  He  was  a  most 
animated  man,  and  infused  animation  and  energy  into  what- 
ever he  undertook.  He  did  nothing  (as  we  say)  by  halves, 
and  would  have  every  man  like  himself.  He  seemed  to  catch 
intuitively  what  others  would  mine  out  by  hard  labor.  As  a 
preacher  he  was  polished  in  his  whole  style  and  manner,  and 


ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES.  175 

eloquent  and  pathetic.  While  he  developed  a  subject  in  a  way 
to  satisfy  the  intellect,  he  knew  how  to  bring  it  home  to  the 
heart.  One  of  the  best  defenses  I  have  ever  heard  of  the  Sa- 
viour's divinity  he  gave  in  this  pulpit,  from  the  first  five  verses  of 
John's  Gospel.  So,  too,  one  of  his  most  moving,  practical  ser- 
mons was  from  Ilosea,  "Then  shall  Ave  know,  if  we  follow  on 
to  know  the  Lord."  It  has  always  been  to  me  a  matter  of 
wonder  that  a  volume  of  his  sermons  was  never  printed. 

There  was  one  form  of  service  he  performed,  in  addition  to 
all  his  other  duties,  which  was  highly  valued ;  he  gave  special 
attention  to  the  elocutionary  culture  of  students,  after  the  rules 
of  "Walker,  on  which  his  own  delivery  was  formed.  On  the 
decease  of  Dr.  Livingston,  that  the  Seniors  might  lose  as  little 
as  possible  from  that  event,  he  carried  on  their  course  in  Didac- 
tic Theology,  and  thus  in  eflect,  for  several  months,  he  had  the 
Avhole  weight  of  Seminary  instruction  resting  on  him.  He 
was  very  fond  of  nature.  To  him,  principally,  are  we  indebted 
for  the  fine  shade-trees  of  the  Campus,  as  well  as  for  the  fine 
floral  display  which  was  yearly  seen  and  admired  at  his  door. 
He,  too,  was  the  means  of  the  donation  of  what  was  known  as 
the  Mrs.  Chinn's  Library,  and  which  he  selected. 

One  personal  incident,  to  me  of  great  moment,  I  may  men- 
tion, if  for  no  other  reason  than  to  show  how  judicious  Chris- 
tian friends  may  benefit  a  young  preacher.  We  were  on  inti- 
mate terms.  One  day  he  said  to  me,  "Llave  you  any  idea 
how  you  preach?"  I  told  him  I  had  not,  and  often  wished 
to  hear  some  one  preach  as  I  did,  that  I  might  see  and  hear 
my  own  manner,  and  correct  it.  He  asked  if  he  should  show 
me.  I  solicited  him  by  all  means,  for  I  knew  that  he  had  a 
remarkable  power  of  imitation.  He  gave  it  to  me,  and  it  was 
the  most  valuable  lesson  of  my  early  ministry ;  it  altered  my 
whole  manner  of  preaching  from  that  day. 

But  I  must  fill  up  my  picture  with  notice  of  another  most 
worthy  and  most  unassuming  clerical  hearer,  and  that  is  Rev. 
John  S.  Mabon,  who  received  his  Professoral  certificate  at  the 
same  time  with  Dr.  Thomas  De  Witt.  If  true  greatness  is 
modest  and  retiring,  then  Mr.  Mabon  is  entitled  to  the  honor, 
for  he  was  such.  Iso  one  could  have  intercourse  with  him 
without  being  struck  with  the  evidences  of  his  profound  and 


170  ANNIVEKSAEY  EXERCISES. 

varied  cultivation.  He  was  indefatigable  in  study,  and  was 
most  happy  among  the  literary  treasures  (gathered  by  himself 
in  Europe)  which  filled  his  shelves,  lie  never  assumed  the 
pastoral  otfice,  though,  when  in  health,  he  not  unfrequently 
supplied  pulpits,  and  had  performed  missionary  work  in  North- 
ern New- York  and  in  Canada.  He  was  an  honored  educator, 
and  had  the  satisfaction  of  preparing  not  a  few  young  men  for 
college  classes.  In  the  Grammar  School  of  Ttutgers  College 
lie  labored  continuously  for  nine  years.  On  the  decease  of  the 
excellent  and  amiable  Dr.  John  Schureman,  the  General  Synod 
gave  him  charge  of  instruction  in  Hebrew,  in  the  Seminary, 
until  a  professor  should  be  chosen.  His  students  remembered 
his  faithful  efforts  gratefully.  He  was  the  warm  friend  as  well 
as  the  devoted  instructor  of  young  men,  sympathizing  in  theii* 
trials  and  ever  ready  to  help  with  counsel  and  other  aid. 

It  was  unfortunate  that  Mr.  Mabon  confined  himself  to  his 
laborious  avocations  so  closely  that  his  health  was  thereby  seri- 
ously impaired.  He  was  brought  into  close  relations  with  Dr. 
Yan  Vranken,  as  he  married  the  doctor's  sister,  a  Christian 
lady,  whom  I  may  w^ll  remember,  as  she  was  the  warm  and 
sympathizing  friend  of  my  family.  Mr.  Mabon  was  a  model 
hearer,  being  always  closely  attentive,  and  entering  into  all  the 
trying  circumstances  of  a  beginner  in  pulpit  duties.  As  a  the- 
ologian,, no  man  exceeded  hiui  in  soundness  of  views  and  intel- 
ligent apprehension  of  truth.  Bred  first  under  most  thorough 
Scotch  training,  he  completed  his  com'se  with  Dr.  Livingston. 
In  his  latter  days  his  trials  were  various  and  severe,  but  borne 
with  a  Christian  spirit.  Though  personally  gone  to  his  rest,  he 
lives  in  a  son,  whose  privilege  it  is  to  occupy  a  high  position 
among  our  ministry. 

It  belongs  to  my  narrative  to  say  that  the  distinguished 
George  Wood,  who  reached  the  pinnacle  of  fame  as  a  lawyer, 
was  a  constant  attendant  in  the  morning  of  the  Sabbath.  His 
close  attention  was  calculated  to  induce  care  in  every  effort  on 
the  part  of  a  young  preacher.  James  Schureman  Nevius,  the 
most  cheerful  and  vivacious  of  young  men,  always  ready  for  a 
joke  and  never  behind  in  a  repartee,  and,  at  the  time,  a  keen, 
discriminating  young  lawyer,  was  my  fellow-boarder  at  his 
uncle's,  and  my  hearer.     With  sharp  eye  and  keen  ear  he  al- 


ANNIVERSAEY  EXERCISES,  177 

ways  heard  the  young  fledgeling  in  the  pulpit.  And  then  regu- 
larly came  Dr.  Ackernian,  "vvhose  interested  countenance  has 
often  come  up  before  me,  and  whose  son  has  become  the  bene- 
factor of  our  missionary  brethren. 

Shall  I  not  speak  of  my  helpers  ?  They  deserve  a  special 
place.  We  have  the  advantage,  through  our  ecclesiastical  sys- 
tem, of  surrounding  a  minister  with  the  best  material  of  which 
a  church  is  composed.  If  a  man  is  unfitted,  or  fails  in  accom- 
plishing a  fair  work,  he  may  be  easily  passed  by  and  another 
introduced  to  his  place.  It  was  my  privilege  to  have  some 
most  capital  men  in  the  eldership  as  well  as  active  men  in  the 
deaconship ;  not  all  of  the  same  characteristics,  but  rarely  a  de- 
ficient man — plain  for  the  most  part,  sincere,  possessed  of  good 
sense  and  piety.  Mr.  James  Schureman  was  a  noble  specimen 
of  a  man,  highly  intelligent,  judicious,  and  possessed  of  general 
influence,  and  of  large  and  liberal  views.  He  had  seen  much 
of  public  life  in  honorable  positions,  and  was  qualified  for  the 
leading  place  which  others  assigned  him.  Frederick  Yan  Liew, 
of  Middlebush,  was  a  farmer,  and  had  enjoyed  few  advantages; 
but  he  was  far  beyond  tlie  ordinary  run  of  men ;  more  than 
almost  any  other  man  he  had  the  confidence  of  the  country 
part  of  the  congregation,  and  was  their  most  able  advocate. 
It  was  my  privilege  to  enjoy  always  his  regard  and  confidence. 
Peter  Yoorhies,  of  MiddlebUsh,  was  an  aged  man  in  my  day ; 
he  had  long  been  a  pillar  in  the  church.  But  I  can  not  dwell 
on  the  WyckofiPs,  Hemy  Van  Arsdale,  David  Fine,  Philip 
Oakie,  Henry  Schenck,  Lewis  Carman,  the  Outcalts,  Judge 
Nicholas  Booraem,  George  Nevius,  and  others;  the  last  two 
still  surviving.  Another  I  can  never  forget.  Though  not  a 
member  of  the  church,  Peter  Spader  was  a  most  valuable  man  ; 
his  favors  were  constant.  Though  separated,  by  removal,  to 
another  charge,  I  always  received  a  cordial  welcome  when  we 
met. 

Paul  charged  his  true  yoke-fellow,  Euodias,  to  help  "  those 
women  which  labored  with  him  in  the  Gospel ; "  and  what  pas-" 
tor  has  not  reason  to  cherish  a  high  regard  for  this  class  of  his 
•helpers  ?  Their  place  is  a  most  important  one.  When  are  they 
not  first  in  good  deeds  ?  When  are  they  not  the  ever  ready 
cooperators  in  the  plans  of  usefulness  a  pastor  may  commend  ? 
12 


178  ANNIVERSARY   EXERCISES. 

When  arc  tliey  not  tlio  most  persevering  ?  Here  they  were  to 
me  most  valuable.  They  constituted  a  valuable  band.  But 
there  are  four  whom  I  have  had  special  reason  to  remember 
most  kindly  :  Sarah  Van  Dorcn  was  never  weary  in  well-doing, 
never  could  do  too  much,  the  Sabbath-school  was  on  her  heart; 
Miss  II.  Vethake,  cultivated,  highly  educated,  retiring,  and  nev- 
er self-reliant,  regarded  no  study  or  labor  too  much  for  the 
ca,use  of  piety ;  the  two  sisters,  Phoebe  and  Elizabeth  Bennett, 
became  members  during  my  ministry,  and  were  most  efficient 
workers  and  supports.  Only  within  a  few  years  has  the  last 
of  the  four  been  called  home,  leaving  her  blessing  behind  her 
in  the  form  of  benevolent  gifts. 

May  I  say  a  word  about  co-laborers,  whose  work  lay  around 
me  in  this  church-field  ?  The  ministerial  brethren  of  the  Clas- 
sis  were  most  valuable  men.  John  S.Vredenbergh,  of  Somcr- 
ville,  was  a  man  of  strong,  marked  merit.  His  whole  heart 
was  in  his  work,  and  it  was  a  large  work ;  and  in  this  he  had 
a  helper  in  a  wife,  who  was  a  second  Isabella  Graham  in  the 
variety  and  importance  of  her  benevolent  works.  Few  families 
were  more  esteemed  than  theirs,  and  few  are  there  where  un- 
usual culture  and  intelligent,  earnest  piety  Avere  so  strikingly 
the  characteristics,  and  few  have  made  such  personal  consecra- 
tions to  the  cause  of  Christ. 

Mr.  Yredenbergli  went  into  the  ministry  from  this  church. 
I  found  his  aged  father  in  its  fellowship  when  I  settled.  The 
pastor  of  Somerville  was  always  heard  Avith  attention  in  the 
councils  of  the  church,  for  he  was  a  most  judicious  and  wise 
man.  God  blessed  his  work  abundantly,  and  it  is  remarkable 
how  great  its  results  were  after  his  decease.  Not  long  after 
that  event,  a  most  extensive  and  powerful  revival  occurred, 
and  some  three  hundred  and  fifty  were  gathered  into  the  fold. 
It  was  the  first  revival  in  which  I  had  labored,  and  it  was  de- 
lio-htful  to  hear  constantly  of  some  good  word  or  earnest  ser- 
mon of  the  deceased  pastor  as  the  instrument  of  awakening. 

One  of  the  most  Nathanael-like  men  was  John  L.  Zabries- 
kie,  pastor  of  Millstone,  and  he  was  my  nearest  clerical  neigh- 
bor. He  was  an  honored  instrument  in  building  up  what  I 
used  to  regard  as  one  of  the  most  desirable  rural  charges  in  the 
denomination.     He  was  eminently  a  man  of  peace,  and  of 


ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES.  179 

great  simplicity  of  character.  Without  any  pretensions  to 
greatness,  his  ministry  was  truly  evangelical,  and  he  saw  the 
children  and  the  children's  children  come  into  the  church. 
His  house  was  the  much-loved  place  of  ministerial  meeting. 

My  valued  friend  and  classmate,  both  in  college  and  in  the 
Seminary,  Isaac  M.  Fisher,  in  a  few  months  after  my  settle- 
ment here  became  pastor  of  the  Bedminster  church.  A  capi- 
tal theologian  he  was,  and  a  most  able  defender  of  the  doc- 
trines of  our  church.  No  man  among  us  in  the  Seminary  was 
so  fixmiliar  witli  the  system  of  Dr.  Livingston,  and  could  more 
intelligently  explain  and  illustrate  it.  His  critical  acumen 
had  been  sharpened  by  the  great  Ilopkinsian  controvei*sy 
which  had  pervaded  the  ISTew-York  churches  a  few  years  be- 
fore ;  and  with  all  its  points,  both  theological  and  metaphysi- 
cal, he  had  made  himself  at  home.  A  most  honest  and  up- 
right man  in  his  principles,  he  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  all 
who  knew  him,  and  the  remarkably  upright  physical  man 
seemed  the  index  of  the  spirit  within. 

Rev.  Jacob  J.  Schultz  was  located  at  the  White  House,  and 
was  one  of  the  most  earnest  of  preachers.  He  labored  as  one 
who  had  the  best  interests  of  his  people  at  heart,  and  was 
blessed  with  large  ingatherings  to  the  fellowship  of  the  clmrches 
to  which  he  ministered.  .  Every  good  enterprise  found  in  him 
a  hearty  cooperator. 

And  there  was  Samuel  A.  Yan  Yranken,  generous,  warm- 
hearted, and  ever  enlivening  by  his  sparkling  remarks.  It  was 
said  he  had  settled  in  Monmouth  with  solicitude  for  his  health, 
as  he  had  expectorated  blood  near  the  close  of  his  student  life. 
But  certainly,  on  that  score,  the  settlement  proved  most  Avise, 
for  he  became  one  of  the  most  vigorous  of  men.  The  bosom 
friend  of  Dr.  Ludlow,  he  exceeded  him  in  the  animation  of 
his  style  and  in  the  emotional  character  of  his  preaching.  In 
the  midst  of  his  people,  he  was  in  his  glory.  In  view  of  Jiis 
health,  he  did  not  in  his  early  ministry  give  himself  to  books 
and  to  sermon- writing.  His  study,  it  was  said,  was  tlie  lawn 
in  front  of  his  house ;  and  there,  pacing  to  and  fro,  he  wrought 
out,  without  pen  or  paper,  his  Sabbath  preparations,  and 
among  his  most  intelligent  hearers  obtained  the  reputation  of 
a  most  powerful  preacher.     It  was  with  difficulty  he  was  in- 


180  ANNIVERSARY  EXERCISES. 

Juced  to  leave  a  place  where  lie  was  so  happy.  Providence 
brought  him  to  the  professorial  office  here  after  two  pastoral 
changes,  and  now  his  remains  lie  in  the  westernmost  portion 
of  your  graveyard. 

But  the  man  who  out-topped  all  others  was  James  S.  Can- 
non— noble  in  form,  dignified  in  manner,  careful  in  speech, 
wise  in  counsel,  the  friend  of  all,  especially  of  the  young  min- 
ister, and  distinguished  for  his  literary  and  theological  attain- 
ments. 

Tlie  doctor  was  brought  into  close  relations  with  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  by  performing  the  service  of  Professor  of 
Ecclesiastical  History  during  the  session  of  1818  and  1819,  (as 
was  the  case  with  Mr.  Mabon ;)  and  his  interest  in  the  stu- 
dents, which  was  always  warm,  became  very  earnest,  and  made 
him  their  counselor  and  friend.  He  seemed  like  a  venerated 
parent  at  Six  Mile  Run,  to  whom  the  students  loved  to  repair 
for  converse  and  advice.  He  was  truly  a  Cliristiau  philoso- 
pher, looking  out  thoughtfully  and  calmly  on  the  outside 
world,  with  its  wave-like  changes.  His  preaching  was  far 
from  the  sensational,  which  rings  changes  on  a  few  exciting 
topics.  Its  range  was  over  the  vast  field  of  Bible  truth,  rest- 
ing with  delight  on  the  Gospel  and  the  sweet  experience  of  its 
working  in  the  Christian  life.  He  subsequently  came  into  dis- 
tinct professorial  relations  with  the  Seminary,  retiring  from  the 
pastoral  ofiice.  And  you  know  well  how  truly  gentlemanly 
his  whole  bearing,  how  uniformly  kind,  how  sympathizing, 
how  exemplary  his  Christian  walk,  how  elevated  and  how 
thorough  his  instruction,  and  how  completely  he  secured  the 
confidence  and  regard  of  all  his  pupils,  either  of  the  College  or 
the  Seminar}'.  He  was  truly  a  great  man,  in  the  best  and 
most  desirable  sense  of  the  term. 

My  friends,  I  thank  you  for  so  kindly  allowing  me  to  carry 
you  in  a  familiar  strain  through  reminiscences  to  me  so  plea- 
sant, and,  I  trust,  not  uninteresting  to  you,  many  of  whom  are 
the  descendants  or  the  connections  of  those  of  whom  I  have 
spoken,  or  to  whom  I  have  referred.  They  are  gone ;  but  not 
without  leaving  a  most  solemn  work  for  their  successors.  The 
old  flock  is  divided  into  three  folds,  each  having  much  to  call 
out  our  gratitude.     I  rejoice  with  you  in  your  enlargement. 


ANNIVEKSARY   EXERCISES.  181 

and  in  tlie  promise  for  the  future  involved  in  it.  To  realize 
all,  and  still  to  advance  to  a  higher  development  of  Christian 
character,  requires  the  earnest  effort  of  all,  and  what  encour- 
agement have  you  to  make  it !  The  God  of  the  fathers  is  your 
God.  What  a  glorious  starting-point  does  this  day,  with  its 
charming  services,  furnish,  and  how  worthily  may  this  be 
made  the  mark  of  those  who  are  in  the  vigor  of  life  and  of 
those  rising  to  maturity  ! 

To  myself,  this  has  been  a  most  grateful  day,  and  especially 
as  it  has  followed  another  of  most  pleasant  character.  A  week 
since,  I  preached  to  the  people  among  whose  fathers  my  pro- 
fession of  the  Saviour's  name  was  made,  and  my  first  commu- 
nion was  celebrated  just  fifty  years  ago  this  month,  and  be- 
fore whom  my  first  sermon  was  preached ;  and  now  I  have  been 
in  solemn  service  with  the  children,  and  the  children's  chil- 
dren, in  the  sanctuary  where  my  ministerial  life  began.  I 
ought  to  be  thankful,  I  trust  I  am  thankful,  and  I  can  well 
leave  the  future  to  my  divine  Master,  to  whom  I  would  give 
all  the  glory. 

On  the  conclusion  of  the  address,  the  congregation  united 
in  siD2;iuo: 

PSALM  XC.     PART  II. 

Tune —  Windsor. 

Our  God,  our  help  in  ages  past, 

Our  hope  for  years  to  come, 
Our  shelter  from  the  stormy  blast, 
~  And  our  eternal  home  ! 

Before  the  hills  in  order  stood, 

Or  earth  received  her  frame, 
From  everlasting  Thou  art  God, 

To  endless  years  the  same. 

Time,  like  an  ever-rolling  stream, 

Bears  all  its  sons  away ; 
They  fly,  forgotten,  as  a  dream 

Dies  at  the  opening  day. 

Our  God,  our  help  in  ages  past, 

Our  hope  for  years  to  come, 
Be  Thou  our  guard  while  troubles  last, 

And  our  eternal  home. 


182  ANNIVEESARY  EXERCISES. 

Tlio  evening  service  was  concluded  with  prayer  and  the 
benediction  by  Rev.  Dr.  Ferris,  and  tlie  great  congregation 
separated. 

Thns,  through  three  services,  occupying  nearly  the  entire 
day,  the  interest  of  these  anniversary  exercises  was  main- 
tained. The  expression  was  general  that  +he  occasion  was  of 
a  most  delightful  and  refreshing  character,  and  had  left  im- 
pressions which  would  make  it  forever  memorable  to  all  who 
liad  been  permitted  to  participate  in  these  solemnities.  We 
had  "  remembered  the  days  of  old,"  according  to  the  divine 
direction.  The  history  of  God's  dealings  with  the  Church 
during  a  period  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  years,  and  of  His 
grace  to  "the  fathers,"  had  been  contemplated  for  our  encou- 
ragement and  strength.  Hallowed  and  tender  recollections 
had  been  awakened  while  worshiping  in  the  venerable  sanc- 
tuary which,  for  more  than  fifty  years,  had  invited  successive 
generations  within  its  courts.  Blessed  seasons  had  been  wit- 
nessed here  by  God's  waiting  people,  on  returning  Sabbatlis, 
as  His  Spirit  was  poured  out  in  answer  to  prayer.  From  this 
communion  of  saints  on  earth  multitudes  have  gone,  rejoicing 
in  hope,  to  join  the  Church  of  the  first-born  whose  names  are 
written  in  heaven. 

Under  such  auspicious  circumstances  has  the  First  Reformed 
Dutch  Church  of  ISTew-Brunswick  celebrated  her  One  Hundred 
and  Fiftieth  Anniversary 


ANNIVERSARY  LESSONS. 

A    SERMON    PREACHED    OCTOBER    G,    1867, 

BY   REV.  RICHARD   H.  STEELE,  D.D. 


"The  Lord  our  God  be  with  us,  as  he  was  with  our  fathers." — 1  Kings 
8  rSr. 

We  have  been  permitted,  in  the  providence  of  God,  to  cele- 
brate the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  founding 
of  our  church — an  anniversary  tliat  has  awakened  attention 
wherever  the  children  of  this  congregation  are  scattered,  and 
which  will  form  an  interesting  topic  of  conversation  as  long  as 
the  present  generation  are  upon  the  stage  of  life.  It  seems 
that,  as  a  fitting  conclusion  to  the  exercises  of  this  occasion, 
your  pastor  should  endeavor  to  gather  together  its  lessons,  and 
repeat,  on  behalf  of  you  all,  the  prayer  of  Solomon  at  the  ded- 
ication of  the  temple,  which  was  so  appropriately  selected  as 
the  motto  of  the  whole  services,  "The  Lord  our  God  be  with 
us,  as  he  was  with  our  fathers." 

Rest  assured,  my  friends,  that  the  interest  of  this  occasion  is 
not  transient  or  circumscribed.  It  has  left  impressions  upon 
our  hearts  which  will  abide  with  us  always;  and,  as  the  facile 
pen  of  the  reporter  shall  spread  round  a  circle  of  unusual 
width  the  story  of  our  religious  festival,  it  will  form  the  topic 
of  thought  and  prayer  in  many  distant  families.  God  has  been 
with  us  in  this  series  of  meetings.  If  ever  Heaven  has  smiled 
propitiously  upon  Christian  gatherings,  ours  is  the  occasion. 
The  day  has  been  a  joyful  one  in  New-Brunswick ;  and  we, 
who  worship  at  the  old  altar  and  dwell  at  the  old  homestead, 
have  not  misinterpreted  the  indications  of  Providence  in  gather- 
ing together  the  children  of  the  fathers  and  their  descendants 


184  ANNIVERSARY- LESSONS. 

to  this  feast  of  memoiy.  The  hroacl  invitation  that  we  cir- 
culated ;  tlic  recollections  that  have  hecn  awakened  ;  the  won- 
derful history  that  has  been  recited  of  these  pioneers  of  the 
covenant,  who  so  many  generations  ago  laid  the  foundation  of 
our  institutions  of  religion,  and  learning,  and  government;  the 
rich  tone  of  spiritual  feeling  that  pervaded  our  assemblies;  and 
the  new  purposes  formed  in  respect  to  the  interest  we  shall 
hereafter  take  in  the  cause  of  Christ,  all  testify  to  the  hold 
this  anniversary  has  taken  upon  our  minds  and  hearts.  I  re- 
peat it :  The  story  of  our  coming  together  on  this  high  festi- 
val occasion  will  be  rehearsed  around  many  a  fireside  and  to 
future  generations.  An  interest  which  is  not  transient  or  local 
now  surrounds  the  spot  where  it  pleased  God  to  plant,  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  years  ago,  this  goodly  vine.  Those  who  know 
us  and  have  worshiped  with  us,  as  well  as  strangers  who  have 
never  stood  within  these  gates,  will  fix  on  us  their  minds  as 
they  speak  of  our  remarkable  history. 

In  making  the  improvement  of  the  occasion  which  the 
whole  subject  suggests,  I  will  not  follow  any  formal  analysis 
of  the  theme,  but  will  lead  you  with  me  along  a  path  of  fami- 
liar reminiscence  and  encouragement,  entreating  the  blessing, 
"The  Lord  our  God  be  with  us,  as  he  was  with  our  fathers." 

Our  fathers^  and  God  with  them.  .After  the  record  which 
has  been  reongraved  upon  their  monuments,  can  we  doubt  the 
reality  ?  I  think  of  these  men  once  more,  as  we  have  read 
their  names  and  refreshed  our  memories  with  their  virtues. 
When  we  reflect  upon  the  hardships  experienced  by  the  first 
settlers  in  this  new  land,  the  privations,  the  labor,  the  dangers 
incident  to  this  then  unbroken  wilderness,  can  there  be  room 
to  doubt  the  special  providence  of  God  in  selecting  the  agents 
who  should  found,  and  in  leading  them  to  the  place  where 
they  should  erect,  this  temple  of  worship  and  praise,  the  first 
religious  organization  in  our  goodly  city?  Was  it  the  merest 
accident  that  they  were  led  to  pitch  their  habitations  in  this 
fertile  land,  coursed  by  this  noble  river,  surrounded  by  these 
broad  fields  of  inviting  husbandry,  in  this  genial  climate,  mid- 
way between  the  stern  winters  which  crown  M-ith  frost  and  ice 
the  northern  latitude  and  the  enervating  heat  and  sickness 
incident  to  a  southern  clime?    Let  those  believe  who  may  that 


ANNIVERSARY  LESSONS.  185 

sncli  a  movement  as  tins  is  only  linman  in  its  conception  and 
results ;  that  the  order  of  events  that  peopled  this  section  of 
our  State  with  that  sturdy  Batavian  race,  whose  excellences 
we  have  commemorated,  was  a  mere  random  adventure  of 
men  who  knew  not  where  they  were  goine;,  or  what  was  the 
end  of  their  mission ;  we,  who  have  faith  in  Providence,  not 
blind  but  wise,  not  a  coercive  necessity  but  an  intelligent  pur- 
pose, will  believe  that  the  Lord  Jehovah  was  with  our  fathei's. 

"When  I  think  of  those  praying  men  who  crowded  around 
that  noble  minister,  Kev,  Theodorus  J.  Frelinghuysen,  who 
broke  ground  for  the  Gospel  in  this  new  territory,  the  compan- 
ion and  colaborer  with  Gilbert  Tennent,  George  "Whitefield, 
and  President  Edwards — Avhose  grave,  like  that  of  Moses,  no 
man  knows  unto  this  day;  when  I  think  how  the  good  minis- 
ter, Mr.  Leydt,  passed  almost  from  his  pulpit  to  the  grave 
amid  the  lamentations  of  the  people;  when  I  think  how  all 
the  expectations  of  this  church  were  disappointed  as  the}^ 
bowed  in  submission  to  the  will  of  Providence  in  the  early 
removal  of  Dr.  Hardenbergh,  while  they  received  the  consola- 
tion administered  to  them  in  the  funeral  sermon  preached  at  his 
burial  by  Dominie  Yan  Ilarlingen,  from  the  text,  "My  father, 
my  father,  the  chariots  of  Israel,  and  the  horsemen  thereof;" 
when  I  think  how  hearts  were  almost  broken  at  the  great  be- 
reavement experienced  in  the  death  of  Dr.  Condict;  when  I 
recall  the  names  of  all  these  ministers  and  their  successors, 
and  behold  the  foundations  they  have  laid,  the  seed  they  have 
sown,  and  the  harvests  they  have  gathered,  I  am  ready  to  re- 
peat, what  has  come  out  all  along  in  our  narrative,  "This  is 
the  Lord's  doing ;  it  is  marvelous  in  our  eyes," 

How  different  is  our  position  to-day  from  that  of  those  who 
first  came  to  this  field  with  the  Gospel  of  salvation !  It  has 
been  impossible  for  me,  during  the  preparation  of  my  Histori- 
cal Discourse — and  I  confess  that  it  has  given  me  two  years 
of  labor  and  thought,  in  the  midst  of  other  duties,  feeling  my 
way  through  a  wilderness  which  had  never  been  traveled,  and 
gathering  materials  for  the  first  one  hundred  years  from 
letters,  scraps  of  newspapers,  old  wills  and  deeds,  Bible  records, 
and  inscriptions  on  the  old  brown  tombstones — it  has  been  im- 
possible, in  the  midst  of  it  all,  to  keep  from  my  mind  that  old 


186  ANNIVERSARY  LESSONS. 

building,  Avitli  its  sliingled  sides,  and  steep  roof,  and  unpainted 
interior,  and  uncarpeted  aisles,  in  Burnet  street,  where  your 
forefathers  worshiped  God  in  the  olden  time,  and  contrast  it 
with  the  quiet  Sabbaths  which  have  shed  around  us  their  hal- 
lowed influence  in  this  ample  tabernacle  and  these  crowded 
congregations.  We  can  not  but  view  with  emotion  the  obscure 
origin  of  some  vast  river,  and  trace  it  in  its  expanding  flow 
onward  in  its  course  until  it  mingles  its  waters  with  the  great 
reservoir  of  ocean.  Then  it  is  the  little  rivulet  tinkling  through 
the  valley;  now  it  is  the  broad  river  on  whose  bosom  the  com- 
merce of  a  nation  floats.  So,  with  emotions  of  wonder  and 
thanksgiving  to  God,  we  trace  the  origin  of  those  streams  of 
moral  and  spiritual  influence  which  have  blessed  our  world, 
and  are  still  accumulating  strength  and  vigor  with  the  lapse  of 
years,  and  whose  ultimate  power  for  good  it  is  almost  impossi- 
ble for  us  to  conceive.  Truly,  that  little  band,  who  first  planted 
here  the  Gospel  of  our  precious  Saviour,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
might  well  be  spoken  of,  in  the  beautiful  figure  of  the  Psalm- 
ist, as  "an  handful  of  corn  on  the  top  of  the  mountain."  And 
even  now  the  prediction  has  been  fulfilled,  for  the  fruit  thereof 
has  shaken  like  Lebanon, 

"They  little  thought  how  pure  a  light, 

AVith  j^cars,  would  gather  round  that  day ; 
How  love  would  keep  their  memories  bright; 
How  wide  a  realm  their  sons  would  sway !" 

A  review  of  the  history  of  our  church,  when  it  shall  be 
spread  out  before  you,  will  exhibit  the  fact  that  the  early 
founders  of  our  religious  institutions  were  men  who  lomd  the 
loord  of  God^  and  who  made  their  appeal  to  it  as  the  onhj  in- 
fallible rule  of  faith  and  2yractice. 

There  are  still  in  existence  a  few  venerable  copies  of  the 
Bible,  in  the  native  language  of  the  Hollanders,  preserved  as 
heir-looms  in  the  families  of  their  descendants.  These  well- 
read  pages  attest  how  intelligently  and  tenaciously  they  ad- 
hered unto  God's  testimonies.  If  they  sought  for  comfort, 
they  found  it  in  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  if  they  needed  inspira- 
tion, they  caught  it  from  the  Old  and  the  IS^ew  Testament ; 
if  they  desired  strength,  they  sought  it  in  these  lively  ora- 


ANNIVERSARY   LESSONS.  187 

cles ;  if  they  panted  after  holiness,  they  coramiined  with  the 
lloh'  Ghost  in  the  volume  which  was  written  by  Ilim.  They 
had  few  books  to  adorn  their  dwellings ;  and  in  most  instances 
a  large  family  Bible,  with  its  antique  binding  and  strange 
plates  and  clasps  of  ponderous  brass ;  a  psalm-book ;  and  a 
volume  of  sermons  prepared  by  some  famous  divine  of  the 
ISTetherlands — a  Brakel,  a  Van  Derkemp,  a  Ilellenbrook,  a 
Marck — constituted  the  entire  religious  educational  apparatus 
of  the  household.  But  this  word  of  God  they  loved.  Some 
of  you  remember  how  these  pious  men  and  women  of  the 
past  generation  pored  over  these  sacred  pages.  Amid  all 
privations,  they  were  sustained  by  the  principles  and  pro- 
mises treasured,  as  they  believed,  for  God's  people  in  the  Book 
of  the  Lord.  Its  biographies  of  the  patriarchs,  its  historical 
narratives,  its  predictions  of  the  Messiah,  its  precious  psalms, 
its  proverbs  and  parables,  its  Gospels  of  the  Saviour,  its  apoca- 
lyptic vision  of  heaven,  were  familiar  lessons  from  infancy  to 
old  age.  They  read  the  Bible  daily,  and  large  portions  of  it 
were  committed  to  memory.  They  taught  their  children  to 
read  it  and  reverence  its  inspired  teachings.  And  some  of 
those  godly  men  became  expounders  of  the  word  of  God,  and 
their  names  have  been  handed  down  to  us  as  "  helpers  "  in  the 
Gospel  of  our  Lord. 

My  friends,  in  the  reverence  in  which  they  held,  and  the 
attachment  which  they  cherished  for,  the  Bible,  the  Dutch 
fathers  are  examples  to  us.  It  is  emphatically  the  hook  for  the 
family  and  the  race.  To  it  we  must  come  at  last  for  all  that 
higher  knowledge  wdiich  relates  to  our  origin  and  our  destiny, 
the  true  aim  of  life  and  the  real  dignity  of  rational  and  intelli- 
gent beings.  Let  the  pleasing  custom  be  perpetuated  of  pre- 
serving the  genealogical  record  of  the  household  in  the  family 
Bible,  written  between  the  Old  and  JS^ew  Testaments,  to  be 
consulted  by  those  who  come  after  us,  telling  the  story  of 
births,  and  baptisms,  and  marriages,  and  burials,  from  genera- 
tion to  generation.  Familiarize  your  own  minds  Mdth  its 
blessed  language,  teach  your  children  its  lessons  of  heavenly 
truth ;  and  as  did  the  fathers,  so  do  you  take  this  best  of  all 
books  as  the  guide,  the  instructor,  the  light,  and  life,  and  law 
of  the  house.    "  There,"  said  one  of  the  pastors  of  this  church, 


188  AXNIVERSARY  LESSONS. 

when  he  was  dj'ino;,  "there  is  the  word  of  God,  whieli  has  an 
abundance  of  knowledge  and  grace.  The  Lord  has  given  jou 
reason,  and  a  capacity  lor  knowing  and  loving  him ;  let  that 
word  be  your  teacher,  and  you  will  experience  riches  of  grace." 
Again,  the  fathers  of  this  church  ivere  men  of  intelligent  and 
earnest  ])iety.  I  speak  now  of  their  religious  character,  as 
moulded  and  developed  under  the  instructions  of  the  early  min- 
isters of  this  church.  After  the  great  conflict  through  which 
Dominie  Frelinghuysen  passed  with  the  formal  element  which 
prevailed  throughout  this  whole  region,  he  gathered  into  the 
communion  a  body  of  men  who  were  spiritual,  praying,  and 
devoted  to  the  cause  of  Christ.  They  were  sound  in  their 
views  of  the  truth ;  in  their  system  of  religious  belief,  they 
adopted  the  catechisms  and  confessions  of  faith  of  the  Re- 
formed Church  ;  in  their  method  of  instruction  in  the  house- 
hold, they  followed  the  direction  of  the  Scriptures,  and  taught 
their  children  out  of  the  word  of  God,  and  trained  them  sys- 
tematically in  the  doctrines  and  standards  in  which  they  them- 
selves had  been  educated  in  the  fatherland.  They  were  the 
children  of  the  covenant.  They  had  faith  in  God,  and  made 
sacrifices  to  promote  his  honor.  They  looked  beyond  theii' 
own  immediate  wants,  and  labored  directly  for  the  welfare  of 
those  who  were  to  come  after  them.  -  They  saw  the  hand  of 
God  before  them  leading  the  way,  and  they  followed  his  direc- 
tions. The  whole  history  of  this  church  is  replete  with  the 
evidence  that  ministers  and  people  sought  the  immediate  guid- 
ance of  God.  "We  might  speak  of  the  deficiencies  in  their 
character,  and  it  would  be  no  difficult  matter  to  discover  points 
in  which  they  failed  ;  ])ut  we  will  leave  this  ungracious  task 
for  those  whose  taste  prefers  to  look  at  their  infirmities  and 
infelicities  rather  than  upon  those  traits  which  bear  the  evi- 
dence of  a  sterling  character.  We  j^refer  to  think  of  these 
men  as  trained  under  the  ministry  of  that  fearless  herald  of  the 
Gospel  who  always  felt  that  he  was  sent  to  this  field  by  a  most 
direct  interposition  of  Providence,  and  who  would  adhere  to 
his  purpose  of  preaching  the  doctrines  of  grace  though  there 
rose  up  the  clamor  of  great  opposition  against  the  truth. 
We  would  think  of  them  as  pitching  their  habitations  in  this 
then  unbroken  wilderness,  opening  for  themselves   a  path 


ANNIVERSARY  LESSONS.  189 

tliroiigli  the  forest ;  worshiping  God  in  the  first  sanctuary 
erected  in  the  interior  of  onr  State  by  the  chnrchof  our  order; 
having  in  their  house  the  ordinance  of  family  worship,  that 
first  care  of  the  Christian  parent ;  planting  the  seminary  of 
learning  by  the  side  of  the  Christian  sanctuary;  and  we  will 
find  in  all  these  things  much  that  we  can  admire  in  our  ISTew- 
Brunswick  ancestors. 

And  the  piety  of  these  men  was  sincere,  a  serious  joy  in  God 
lighting  up  their  countenances,  and  inspiring  within  them, 
amid  all  their  hardships,  the  blessedness  of  hope.  Eev.  Gil- 
bert Tennent,  who  was  on  terms  of  special  intimacy  with  his 
co-laborer  in  this  city,  Eev.  Mr.  Frelinghuysen,  has  left  the 
record  that  his  ministry  was  eminently  blessed  here,  and  that 
those  who  were  in  membership  with  the  church  "  appeared  to 
be  converted  persons,  by  their  soundness  of  principles.  Chris- 
tian experience,  and  pious  example."  He  describes,  in  one  of 
his  letters,  the  work  of  grace  which  was  here  enjoyed,  and 
he  says,  "  I  may  further  observe  that  frequently,  at  sacramen- 
tal seasons  in  ISTew-Brunswick,  there  have  been  signal  dis- 
plays of  the  divine  power  and  presence.  Divers  have  been 
convinced  of  sin  by  the  sermons  there  preached,  some  con- 
verted, and  many  affected  by  the  love  of  God  in  Jesus  Christ. 
Oh  !  the  sweet  meltings  that  I  have  seen  on  such  occasions 
among  many.  Xew-Brunswick  did  then  look  like  a  field  that 
the  Lord  had  blessed.  It  was  like  a  little  Jerusalem,  to  which 
the  scattered  tribes  with  eager  haste  repaired  on  sacramental 
solemnities,  and  there  they  fed  on  the  fatness  of  God's  house, 
and  drank  of  the  rivers  of  his  pleasure." 

There  are  many  other  inviting  pages  in  the  history  of  the 
fathers,  every  one  rich  in  instructive  lessons.  We  could  speak 
of  their  patriotism,  and  show  you  that  these  men  loved  their 
country  and  hated  oppression.  The  teachings  of  history  in  the 
land  from  whence  they  came,  while  it  exhibited  the  doctrine 
of  toleration  in  all  civil  and  ecclesiastical  matters,  at  the  same 
time  furnished  precedents  which  have  been  wrought  out  in 
the  struggles  through  which  our  own  nation  has  passed.  The 
United  Provinces  of  the  Netherlands  had  a  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence long  before  that  more  renowned  instrument  which 
bound  into  one  nation  the  United  States  of  America.     They 


190  ANNIVERSARY   LESSONS. 

had  a  constitutional  government  in  opposition  to  liereditary 
laower.  They  had  a  motto — "  Unity  makes  might" — whicli  is 
liardly  inferior  to  that  of  our  own  country,  which  is  intended 
to  express  the  union  of  these  States.  It  is  not  surprising  that 
sucli  men  gave  themselves  to  the  cause  of  their  country,  and 
suffered  for  this  heritage  which  they  have  transmitted  unto  lis. 

We  could  speak  of  the  intellectual  character  of  the  fathers ; 
and,  while  not  claiming  for  them  any  considerable  degree  of 
culture  and  learning,  yet  it  might  be  shown  that,  for  the  times 
and  poverty  of  advantages  whicli  they  enjoyed,  they  were  not 
devoid  of  intelligence,  and  had  an  eye  to  the  prospective  wants 
of  the  church.  Coming  from  that  Dutch  republic  which  had 
its  system  of  free  schools,  which  so  caught  the  attention  of  the 
Puritans  in  their  exile,  as  tliey  saw  it  in  successful  operation, 
that  they  made  it  their  model  on  the  settlement  of  Xew-Eng- 
land,  it  is  not  surprising  that  the  first  minister  brought  with 
him  to  this  field  of  labor  the  "  M'ell-educated  schoolmaster," 
Jacobus  Schureman,  a  "gentleman  who  was  respectable  for 
his  literary  acquirements  as  well  as  for  his  piety,"  and  planted 
the  school-house  by  the  side  of  the  church.  First  of  all,  they 
made  provision  for  the  permanent  establishment  of  religious 
institutions,  and  then,  at  great  sacrifice,  they  furnished  facili- 
ties for  the  highest  forms  of  education,  establishing  the  fifth 
College  in  the  North- American  colonies,  and  planting  the  first 
Theological  Seminary  in  our  land.  These  points,  with  others, 
are  inviting.  But  the  evidence  is  sufficient  that  the  Lord  Je- 
hovah was  with  the  fathers.  He  sent  them  to  this  field,  and 
bestowed  on  them  His  blessing.  And  we  have  that  in  their 
record  which  is  to  us  a  ground  of  thanksgiving. 

It  seems  to  us,  as  we  study  the  history  of  the  church,  that  it 
is  a  special  providence  of  God  in  giving  to  our  American  Zion, 
in  the  various  branches  of  her  organization,  a  fatherland,  from 
which  they  have  received  the  peculiar  type  of  their  theology 
and  order.  The  Scotch  Presbyterians  hail  from  the  hills  and 
valleys  of  that  land  of  martyrs,  which  is  redolent  with  the 
piety  of  those  suffering  heroes  who  so  long  resisted  the  tyranny 
of  a  court  that  knew  not  God  nor  the  best  interests  of  the 
state.  And  is  it  any  wonder  that  they  think  to-day  with  joy- 
ful pride  how  their  ancestors,  of  a  noble  faith  and  a  simple 


ANNIVEESARY  LESSONS.  191 

form  of  worship,  made  the  forests  and  glens  of  Scotland  vocal 
with  their  psalms  of  praise.  And  how  often  arc  we  pointed 
to  that  exhibition  of  faith  and  devotion  in  the  historj'  of  the 
pilgrims  of  New-England,  who,  after  a  long  and  boisterons 
passage,  disembarked  from  the  storm-beaten  Mayflower  in  the 
midst  of  a  nortliern  winter,  waded  through  the  snrf  to  the  icy 
shore,  bowed  in  worship  on  the  snow-covered  rock  of  Ply- 
month,  and  there,  finding  what  they  had  sought  in  this  new 
world— liberty  and  a  home — made  that  December  sky  echo 
with  their  songs  of  praise  and  voice  of  prayer. 

Grand  as  are  these  associations — and  we  acknowledge  it  all — 
is  it  not  also  worthy  of  remembrance  that  the  church  of  our 
faith  and  order  had  its  origin  in  that  Dutch  republic  whose 
territory  was  rescued  from  the  ocean  by  artificial  embank- 
ments ;  a  republic  that  gave  shelter  to  the  persecuted  of  all 
other  nations,  receiving  the  Pilgrims  and  Huguenots  when 
hunted  by  civil  and  ecclesiastical  intolerance  from  their  own 
land  ;  a  republic,  wdiose  noble  constitution  gave  origin  to  our 
own  form  of  government,  and  which  stood  so  long  as  a  rock 
against  the  in-rolling  tide  of  Catholic  dominion  and  prelatical 
and  intolerant  usurpation?  Our  history,  as  a  branch  of  the 
American  church,  is  worthy  of  preservation,  and  I  trust  that 
God  will  make  me  thankful  that  I  have  a  home,  by  birth  and 
education  and  ministerial  life,  in  a  church  which  hails  froni 
sturdy  Holland. 

Let  me  now  suggest,  as  an  appropriate  close  to  my  dis- 
course, some  lessons  which  the  prayer  of  our  text  teaches. 

1.   Our  gratitude  is  due  to  God  for  the  gift  of  the  fathers. 

A  noble  ancestry  is  a  ground  of  gratitude  unto  God,  and  no 
one  can  tell  how  much  he  is  indebted  for  the  bestowment  of 
such  an  inheritance.  The  exhibition  of  their  virtues  and  the 
power  of  their  example  has  been  sending  down  through  suc- 
cessive generations  the  most  healthful  and  beneficent  influ- 
ence. God  selected  these  agents  as  the  pioneers  of  his  Gospel 
in  this  region,  and  they  have  been  made  by  Providence  the 
instruments  of  conferring  upon  us  and  upon  the  world  count- 
less blessings.  These  patriarchal  men  have  stood  before  us 
during  our  exercises  strong  in  faith,  fervent  in  prayer,  earnest 
in  W'Ork  for  Christ,  and  exemplary  in  life.     And  on  the  divine 


192  ANNIVERSARY   LESSONS. 

faitlifulness  in  the  fulfillment  of  his  precious  promises  we  also 
will  i"clj.  "  Know,  therefore,  that  the  Lord  thy  God,  he  is 
God,  the  faithful  God,  which  keepeth  covenant  and  mercy 
with  them  that  love  him  and  keep  his  commandments  to  a 
thousand  generations." 

2.  We  should  foiiter  and  strengthen  all  those  institutions 
which  the  fathers  established. 

The  polic}'  and  wisdom  of  the  fathers  was  to  establish,  first, 
the  church  with  all  its  necessary  appointments — the  outward 
edifice  very  simjDle  and  unadorned  in  its  construction,  but,  for 
the  times,  convenient  and  ample,  and  not  contrasting  in  an 
imfavorable  way  with  their  own  j)rivate  dwellings.  The  ori- 
ginal house  of  worship,  in  Bm-net  street,  was  erected  from  the 
scanty  means  which  the  first  settlers,  in  their  poverty,  conse- 
crated to  the  Lord.  The  second,  built  on  this  very  site,  of  the 
more  enduring  stone,  was  a  clear  expression  of  the  advancing 
spirit  and  liberal  views  of  the  congregation.  This  noble  edi- 
fice, which  has  now  stood  in  its  massive  proportions  for  more 
than  half  a  century,  on  a  still  broader  scale  displayed  the 
large-hearted  liberality  of  those  men  who  saw  the  need  of 
such  an  edifice  as  this  to  adorn  our  city  and  invite  generations 
to  crowd  its  gates.  The  sad  scene  connected  with  its  erection 
adds  interest  to  this  place  of  worship.  The  beloved  pastor, 
who  had  ministered  here  for  seventeen  years,  saw  the  impor- 
tance of  this  enterprise,  and  upon  the  threshold  of  the  work 
God  took  him.  It  was  a  day  of  mourning  when  the  congre- 
gation gathered  around  his  grave,  beneath  the  walls  of  the  old 
building  now  in  process  of  demolition.  Yonder  is  his  monu- 
ment, and  around  this  venerable  church  are  resting  hundreds 
to  whom  he  preached,  and  the  record  of  the  sainted  Condict 
is  still  precious  to  the  people  of  the  Lord. 

We  shall  show  our  appreciation  of  the  work  of  the  fathers 
by  cherishing  the  institutions  which  they  established.  Are 
increased  facilities  demanded  ?  let  us  arise  and  build.  Have 
we  schools  and  colleges  and  seminaries  ?  let  us  see  that  these 
are  maintained  with  vigor  in  our  midst,  and  learn  wisdom,  by 
occupying  important  posts  in  the  growing  West,  that  we  may 
do  our  part  in  providing  means  of  intellectual,  moral,  and  reli- 
gious culture  for  the  whole  land. 


ANNIVERSARY  LESSONS.  193 

3.  Let  us  imitate  the  excellences  of  the  fathers. 

I  have  not  represented  them  as  perfect  cliaracters.  They 
had  their  faults.  But  they  were  the  faults  of  the  age.  And 
while  we  spread  the  mantle  of  charity  over  their  failings,  let 
us  walk  in  the  footsteps  of  their  piety.  It  will  be  well  for 
us  to  remember  that  the  whole  benefit  of  the  past  will  be  lost 
upon  us  if  wo  so  rely  upon  it  as  to  make  it  a  ground  of  repose, 
as  if  no  further  exertion  was  demanded.  Do  not  let  us,  then, 
so  rest  upon  the  works  of  the  fathers  that  we  shall  attempt  no 
farther  progress.  Let  us  arise  and  work  for  God,  and  pray, 
labor,  toil  for  that  gracious  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost  which 
would  be  such  a  crown  of  glory  to  our  anniversary,  and  fill 
heaven  with  joy.  We  will  prove  ourselves  worthy  of  our  his- 
tory if  we  do  the  great  work  to  which  the  providence  of  God 
surely  points  us. 

Let  us,  then,  most  fervently  offer  unto  God  the  prayer  of 
Solomon  at  the  dedication  of  the  Temple,  "  The  Lord  our  God 
be  with  us  as  he  was  with  our  fathers."  Was  God  graciously 
present  with  the  former  pastors  of  this  church,  rendering  them 
iaithful  in  labors  and  successful  in  winning  souls  to  Christ  ? 
So  may  He  be  with  him  who  now  serves  his  Master  and  this 
church  of  Christ  in  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel.  May  He 
make  me  a  faithful  ambassador  for  God,  a  diligent  worker  in 
the  vineyard,  and  a  true  leader  of  the  people.  Was  God  with 
the  officers  of  the  church,  teaching  them  to  rule  well  in  the 
house  of  the  Lord  ?  So  may  He  be  with  these  elders  and 
deacons,  rendering  them  efficient  co-laborers  with  the  pastor, 
and  watchful  over  the  interests  of  Zion.  Was  God  with  the 
young  men  of  this  church,  giving  them  wisdom  to  consecrate 
themselves  to  Him  in  the  work  of  the  ministry?  So  may  He 
raise  up  and  send  forth  from  this  communion  many  who  shall 
devote  their  talents  to  the  blessed  work  of  the  ministry  of  re- 
conciliation. We  remember  the  fathers,  and  how  God  was 
with  them.  But  where  are  they?  They  have  all  passed 
away.  Man  dies,  but  God  lives.  Ministers,  elders,  members 
of  this  church  are  gone.  Their  bodies  rest  in  hope  in  the  ad- 
joining churchyard,  while  their  spirits  have  long  been  with 
the  Saviour  in  the  land  of  the  blessed. 

One  hundred  years  ago,  the  spot  on  which  we  worship  was 
13 


194  ANNIVERSARY  LESSONS. 

consecrated  to  the  God  of  Betliel.  "WIibd  the  next  one  hun- 
dred years  are  added,  wliat  changes  shall  then  have  taken  place  ! 
It  Avill,  without  doubt,  be  observed.  But  not  one  of  us  will  be 
living  to  share  in  the  succeeding  anniversary.  Long  before 
that  time,  we  will  ail  have  passed  away.  The  church  Avill  be 
here,  worshijiing  in  this  or  in  some  future  sanctuary.  This 
beautiful  river,  with  a  name  so  redolent  of  the  tribes  who 
darted  their  swift  canoes  along  its  tide,  will  still  flow  onward 
to  the  ocean.  These  fields,  so  verdant,  will  still  slope  down  to 
the  river  margin,  yielding  the  finest  of  the  wheat.  All  these 
institutions  of  religion  and  learning  which  give  honor  to  our 
city  will  abide,  we  trust,  more  vigorous  with  the  increase  of 
years.  But  we  will  not  be  of  the  number  who  make  up  the 
great  congregation  on  that  occasion. 

"Who'll  pass  along  our  city  street 

A  hundred  years  to  come  ? 
Who'll  tread  this  church  with  willing  feet 

A  hundred  years  to  come  ? 
Pale,  trembling  age,  and  fiery  youth. 
And  childhood,  with  its  brow  of  truth  ; 
The  rich  and  poor,  on  land  and  sea — 
Where  will  the  mighty  millions  be 

A  huntlred  years  to  come  ?, 

"  We  all  within  our  graves  will  sleep 

A  hundred  years  to  come  ; 
Xo  willing  soul  for  us  will  weep 

A  hundred  years  to  come. 
But  other  men  our  lands  will  till, 
And  others  then  our  streets  will  fill. 
And  others  words  will  sing  as  gay. 
And  bright  the  sun  shine  as  to-day, 

A  hundred  years  to  come." 


Part    "Phird, 


APPENDIX 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  CHURCH,  1867. 


Castor. 
Rev.  RICHARD  H.  STEELE. 


ISAAC  VOORHEES, 
JESSE  F.  HAGEMAX, 
JOHN  BEEKMAN, 


JElder-s. 

FERDINAND  S.  CORTELYOU. 
LEWIS  APPLEGATE, 
GEORGE  BUTTLER. 


HENRY  K.  HOW. 
GILBERT  S.  VAN  PELT, 
V.  M.  W.  SUYDAM, 


^eacont, 

NICHOLAS  W.  PARSELL, 
JOHN  V.  H.  VAN  CLEEF, 
JOHN  STEWART. 


Treasurer. 
IRA  CONDICT  VOORHEES. 


APPENDIX. 


The  lands  west  of  the  Raritan  lots,  extending  back  to  the  Millstone  river, 
and  as  far  up  said  river  as  Rocky  Hill,  (taking  in  nearly  all  of  Franklin 
township,  and  a  strip  in  addition  on  the  south  of  the  Six  Mile  Run  Turn- 
pike,) were  originally  divided  into  four  large  plots,  which  may  be  in  general 
thus  described :  The  plot  of  Daniel  Cox  began  at  the  north-west  corner  of 
Inians's  two  plots,  near  the  Two  Mile  Run  Tavern  ;  thence  in  a  straight  line 
south-west  five  miles,  to  a  point  a  mile  and  a  quarter  south  of  Six  Mile  Run 
church;  thence  west-south-west  three  and  one  tenth  miles  to  the  road  lead- 
ing from  Ten  Mile  Run  to  Little  Rocky  Hill,  being  to  a  point  on  said  road 
about  one  mile  directly  south  of  Ten  Mile  Run  ;  thence  in  a  straight  line 
north-north-east  eight  miles  and  thirty  chains,  striking  and  following  what 
is  known  as  the  Middlebush  road,  (which  is  a  remnant  of  this  eight-mile 
line,)  to  a  point  on  the  Raritan  lots,  (cither  Jones's  or  Clement's  lot,  and  now 
the  farm  of  J.  V.  L.  Van  Doren,)  and  thence  along  the  rear  of  the  Raritan 
lots  two  and  a  half  miles,  plus  ten  chains,  to  the  point  of  beginning,  con- 
taining 7540  acres,  (Amboy  Records,  Lib.  G,  p.  314;  also,  Lib.  E,  p.  365.) 
The  proprietors  sold  this  tract  to  one  of  their  fellow  proprietors,  Daniel  Cox, 
of  London,  September  1st,  1694.  Signed  Andrew  Hamilton,  David  Mudie, 
Andrew  Bowne,  James  Dundas,  L.  Morris,  John  Inians,  Thomas  Warne, 
George  Willocks,  Thomas  Gordon,  John  Reid,  John  Barclay. 

The  second  plot  begins  at  apoint  on  Millstone  River,  opposite  Rocky  Hill, 
and  runs  east-south-east  two  miles,  minus  twelve  chains,  to  the  southern 
end  of  the  eight-mile  line  before  alluded  to;  thence  along  said  line  three 
miles,  minus  six  chains,  and  thence  west-north-west  two  miles,  to  the  Mill- 
stone River,  where  the  Ten  Mile  Run  brook  empties  into  the  same ;  thence 
up  the  Millstone  to  the  place  of  beginning,  containing  5000  acres.  John 
Harrison  and  George  Willocks  bought  this  tract,  as  well  as  the  adjoining 
tract,  of  Daniel  Cox,  already  described,  in  the  year  1700.  (Amboy  Records, 
Lib.  E,  p.  365.) 

The  third  plot,  bought  by  the  same  parties,  begins  at  the  mouth  of  Ten 
Mile  Run  brook,  and  runs  two  miles  south-easterly  to  the  eight-mile  line  (or 
the  Middlebush  I'oad;)  thence  along  said  line  four  miles  and  a  half,  minus 


198 


APPENDIX. 


six  chains,  to  a  point  half  a  mile  north-cast  of  Middlebush  church,  and 
thence  vvest-norLli-west  three  miles  and  eight  chains  to  the  Millstone 
river,  at  the  mouth  of  a  little  brook  called  Ledging  brook,  (this  is  one  or 
other  of  the  small  streams  within  a  mile  south  of  East-Millstone ;)  the 
fourth  plot  lying  north  of  the  last,  and  between  it  and  the  Raritan  lots, 
(now  known  as  the  Cedar  Grove  District,)  appears  to  have  been  taken  pos- 
session of  by  William  Dockvvra,  who  owned  neighboring  lands  on  the 
Raritan  and  Millstone.  At  any  rate,  a  portion  of  this  land,  sold  by  Richard 
Salter  (Dockwra's  agent)  to  Christian  Van  Doren,  in  1723,  had  to  be  re- 
purchased as  late  as  1700,  upon  the  representation  that  Salter  had  no  right 
to  sell  it.  There  were  several  conflicting  claims  to  this  portion  of  Frank- 
lin township.     (See  Millstone  Centennial,  pp.  13,  1-i,  IG,  19,  and  21.) 


II. 


LIST  OF  FAMILIES  IN  THE  CONGREGATION— 1732-35. 


Jan  Aetcn, 
Jan  Aetcn,  Jr., 
Thomas  Aeten, 

Gerardus  Banker, 
Jacob  Buys, 
James  Bennet, 
Jan  Bennet, 
Elias  Barger, 
Andrew  Blacw, 
Cornelius  Bennet, 
Ilendrick  Blacw, 
Aerie  Bennet, 
John  Buys, 

Francis  Costigin, 
Cornelius  Cornell, 
Peter  Cochran, 
Jacobus  Cornell, 
Geri'it  De  Graw, 
John  De  Witt, 

G.  De  Peystcr, 
Frans  Dilden, 
Hendrick  Dallj-, 
Gideon  De  Camp, 

Philip  French, 
Charles  Fontyn, 
Hendrick  Fisher, 
Abraham  Fontyn, 
Folkert  Folkers, 
Jacob  Fontyn, 
Jaques  Fontyn, 
Johannes  Folkers, 
Isack  Fontyn, 


Johannes  Fontyn, 
Reyner  Fontyn, 

John  Guest, 
Gerrit  Gerritsen, 
John  Gedeman, 

James  Ilude, 
Abraham  Ileyer, 
Daniel  Hendrickson, 

Isaac  Jansen, 

Peter  Kemble, 

Paul  Le  Boyton, 
Cornelius  Low, 

Tennis  Montague, 
Johannes  Messelcr, 
Paul  Miller, 
Johannes  Meyer, 
Peter  Metselaer, 
Peter  Moon, 
Samuel  Mulford, 
Paul  Miller, 

Andrew  Norwood, 
Roelef  Nevius, 

Frederick  Outgelt, 
Jacob  Ouke, 
Abraham  Guke, 
William  Cuke, 

Jan  Probasco, 


Christofel  Probasco, 

Dirck  Schuyler, 
Jacobus  Schureman, 
Cornelius  Suydam, 
Hendrick  Schenck, 
Roelef  Seebring, 
Petrus  Sleght, 
Abraham  Schuyler, 
Gerrit  Stoothof, 
Johannes  Seebring, 
Lucas  Smack, 
Aaron  Sutfin, 

John  Ten  Broeck, 

Isaac  Van  Noordstrand, 
Dirck  Van  Arsdalen, 
Hendrick  Van  Deursen, 
Folkert  Van  Noorstrand, 
Jeremiah  Van  Derbilt, 
Hendrick  Van  Derbilt, 
Aris  Van  Arsdalen, 
Jarr  Van  Buren, 
Dirck  Van  Veghten, 
Dirck  Van  Allen, 
Johannes  Martinus  Yiiu 

Harlingen, 
Benjamin  Van  Cleef 
Aris  Van  Derbilt, 
Abraham  Van  Deursen, 
Abraham  Van  Doren. 
Aris  Van  Cleef, 
^Minnie  Van  Voorhees, 
Peter  Voorhees, 
Lucas  Voorhees, 


APPEXDTX.  199 

Johfinncs  Van  Noiden,      Jan  Tan  Nuj-p,  Gerrit  Voorhees, 

Christofel  Tan  Doren,       Roelcf  Yooihees,  Frederick  Van  Lieuwcn, 

Frans  Van  Dj'ck,  Dirck  Van  Norstrantl,  Ilcndrick  Van  Derbilt, 

Nicolas  Van  Dyck,  William  Van  Der  Kype,  "William  Williamson,      ,; 

Court  Van  Voorhees,         Jacob  Van  End,  Lawrence  Williamson, 

Christian  Van  Doren,        Matys  Van  Der  Rype,  Leffert  Waldron, 

Hendrick  Van  Lieuwcn,  Johannes  Voorhees,  Philip  Young. 


III. 

CHARTER  OF  THE  FIVE  CHURCHES,  KEW-BRUNSWICK,  RARI- 
TAN,  SIX  MILE  RUN,  MILLSTONE,  AND  NORTH  BRANCH, 
GRANTED  JUNE  Tth,  1753  : 

George  the  Second,  By  the  grace  of  God,  of  Great  Britain,  France,  and 
Ireland,  King,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  etc.,  To  all  to  whom  these  presents 
shall  come,  greeting:  Whereas,  diverse  and  sundries  of  our  loving  subjects 
inhabiting  within  the  several  counties  of  Somerset,  Hunterdon,  and  Middle- 
sex, in  our  Province  of  New-Jersey,  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  others, 
being  of  the  Dutch  Protestant  Reformed  Chvirch,  by  their  humble  petition 
presented  to  our  trusty  and  well-beloved  Jonathan  Belcher,  Esq.,  Captain- 
General  and  Governor-in-Chief  in  and  over  our  Province  of  New-Jersey 
and  territories  thereon  depending  in  America,  Chancellor  and  Vice-Admiral 
in  the  same  etc.,  setting  forth  that  the  petitioners  are  very  numerous  and 
daily  increasing,  and  consist  of  five  Churches  and  Congregations,  to  wit. 
The  Church  and  Congregation  of  Earitan,  the  Church  and  Congregation  of 
North-Branch,  the  Church  and  Congregation  of  New-Brunswick,  the 
Church  and  Congregation  of  Six  Mile  Run,  the  Church  and  Congregation 
of  Millstone ;  That  the  most  advantageous  support  of  religion  among 
them,  requires  that  some  persons  among  them  should  be  incorporated  as 
trustees  for  the  community,  that  they  may  take  grants  of  lands  and 
chattels,  thereby  to  enable  the  petitioners  to  erect  and  repair  public  build- 
ings, for  the  worship  of  God,  school-houses  and  alms-house.s,  and  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  ministry  and  poor,  and  that  the  same  trustees  may 
plead  and  may  be  impleaded  in  any  suit  touching  the  promises,  and  have 
perpetual  succession  ;  and  we  having  nothing  more  at  heart  than  to  see  the 
Protestant  Religion  in  a  flourishing  condition  throughout  all  our  domin- 
ions, and  being  graciously  pleased  to  give  all  due  encouragement  to  such 
of  our  loving  subjects,  who  are  zealously  attached  to  our  person,  govern- 
ment and  the  Protestant  succession,  in  our  royal  house,  and  to  grant  the 
request  of  the  petitioners  in  this  behalf:  Know  ye,  that  we  of  our  special 
grace,  certain  knowledge,  and  mere  motion,  have  willed,  ordained,  consti- 
tuted, and  granted,  and  by  these  presents  for  us,  our  heirs  and  successors, 
do  will,  ordain,  constitute,  and  appoint,  that  the  Rev.  John  Light,  John 
Frelinghouse,  Ministers,  John  Van  Middlesworth,  Peter  Williams,  Peter 
Van  Ess,  Andrew  Ten  Eyck,  Daniel  Ceybyrn,  Peter  Mountfort,  Hendrick 
Fisher,    Cornelius    Bennet,    William   Williams,    Luke    Voorliecs,     David 


200  ArPEXDix. 

Neviu>,  Simon  Van  Arsdalcn,  John  Strieker,  Reynior  Vechten,  Elders, 
and  Frans  Cusart,  Andrew  Monton,  John  Broca,  Ilarman  Lean,  Cornehus 
Wyckoff,  Peter  Schauip,  Ilendrick  Van  Dcursen,  John  Mcsselaer,  Abra- 
ham Ilize,  Christopher  Iloglan,  Rem  Garretsen,  Cornehus  Van  Arsdalen, 
Andrew  Ilagaman,  Abraham  Hagaman,  and  James  Van  Arsdalen,  Deacons 
of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Congregations  above-named,  and  the  counties 
aforesaid,  and  their  successors  hereafter,  the  minister  or  ministers.  Elders 
and  Deacons  of  the  respective  Churches  or  Congregations,  which  at  or  any 
time  hereafter,  be  duly  chosen  or  appointed,  shall  be  and  remain  one  body 
pohtick  and  corporate  in  deed  and  fact,  by  the  name  of  the  trustees  of  the 
Dutch  Reformed  Church  of  Raritan,  North-Branch,  New-Brunswick,  Six 
Mile  Run,  and  Millstone  in  the  counties  aforesaid,  and  tliat  all  and  every 
one,  the  ministers.  Elders  and  Deacons  before  herein  expressed,  shall  be 
the  first  trustees  of  the  said  churches  and  congregations  now  by  these 
presents  constituted  and  made  one  body  politick  by  the  name  of  the 
trustees  of  the  Protestant  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  and  shall  so  remain  until 
others  are  duly  called,  chosen,  and  put  into  their  respective  place  or  places, 
and  that  thc^',  the  said  body  politick  and  corporate  shall  have  perpetual 
succession  in  deed,  fact,  and  name,  to  be  known  and  distinguished  by  the 
name  of  The  Trustees  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Churcli;  and  all  deeds, 
grants,  bargains,  sales,  leases,  evidences,  or  otherwise,  whatsoever  which 
may  anywise  relate  or  concern  the  corporation,  and  also  that  they  and  their 
successors,  by  the  name  of  The  Trustees  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church 
of  Raritan,  North-Branch,  New-Brunswick,  Six  Mile  Run,  and  Millstone,  in 
the  counties  aforesaid,  be  and  forever  hereafter  shall  be,  persons  able  in  law 
to  purchase,  take,  hold,  or  enjoy,  any  messuages,  houses,  buildings,  lands, 
tenements,  rents,  or  whatsoever  in  fee  and  forever,  or  for  lime  of  life,  or  lives, 
or  in  any  other  manner,  so  as  the  same  exceed  not  at  any  time  in  the  yearly 
value  of  seven  hundred  pounds  sterling,  per  annum,  beyond  and  above  all 
charges,  and  reprizes,  the  statute  of  mortmain,  or  any  other  law  to  the  con- 
trary notwithstanding,  and  also  goods,  chattels,  and  all  other  things  to 
what  kind  soever,  and  also  that  they  and  their  successors,  by  the  name  of 
The  Trustees  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  shall  and  may  give,  grant, 
demise,  or  otherwise  dispose  of  all  or  any  of  the  messuages,  houses,  buildings, 
lands,  tenements,  rents  and  all  other  things  as  to  them  shall  seem  meet,  at 
their  own  will  and  pleasure ;  and  also  that  they  and  their  successors,  be 
and  forever  hereafter  shall  be,  persons  able  in  law  to  sue  and  be  sued, 
plea  and  be  impleaded,  answer  and  be  answered  unto,  defend  and  be  de- 
fended in  all  Courts  and  places,  before  us  our  heirs  and  successors,  and 
before  us,  or  an}^  of  the  judges,  officers,  or  ministers  of  us  our  heirs  and 
successors,  in  all  and  all  manner  of  actions,  suits,  complaints,  pleas, 
causes  matters, and  demands,  whatsoever;  and  also  that  the  same  trustees 
of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Chirches,  above-named  for  tlie  time  being,  and 
their  successors  shall  and  may  forever  hereafter  have  and  use  a  common 
seal  with  such  device  or  devices,  as  they  shall  think  proper  for  sealing  all 
and   singular   deeds,  grants,  conveyances,    contracts,   bonds,   articles   of 


APPENDIX.  201 

agreement,  and  all  and  singular  their  affairs  touching  or  concerning  the 
said  corporation.  And  we  do  further  ordain,  will,  or  grant,  that  all  and 
every  such  lands,  tenements,  and  hereditaments  corporeal  or  incorporeal, 
money,  goods,  and  chattels,  which  at  any  time  before  or  after  the  date  of 
these  our  letters  patent,  have  been,  or  shall  be,  devised,  given,  or  granted, 
to  all  or  any  of  the  particular  churches  above-named,  within  the  said  seve- 
ral counties  of  Hunterdon,  Somerset,  and  Middlesex,  or  to  any  person  or 
persons,  in  trust  for  them,  shall  be  and  remain  in  the  peaceable  and  quiet 
possession  of  the  corporation,  according  to  the  true  intent  or  meaning  of 
such  devise  or  devises,  gift  or  gifts,  grant  or  grants;  We  do  further  will, 
ordain,  give,  and  grant,  that  the  trustees  by  these  presents  appointed,  shall 
continue  and  remain  the  trustees  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Churches  of  Raritan, 
North-Bi-anch,  New-Brunswick,  Six  Mile  Run,  and  Millstone,  in  the  counties 
aforesaid,  until  others  shall  be  called  and  chosen  according  to  the  manner, 
customs  and  methods  now  in  use  among  the  said  Protestant  Dutch  Reformed 
Churches,  which  persons  so  called,  elected,  and  chosen,  shall  have  all  the 
powers  and  authorities  of  the  above-named  trustees,  and  all  and  everj' 
such  person  or  persons  so  newly  called,  elected,  and  chosen,  as  aforesaid, 
shall  remain  until  other  fit  persons  in  like  manner  be  called,  elected,  and 
chosen,  in  their  respective  rooms  and  places,  and  so  toties  quoties.  And 
we  do  further  ordain,  give,  and  grant,  that  there  be  a  meeting  of  the 
several  trustees  of  the  churches  aforesaid,  at  the  Raritan  public  place  of 
worship,  in  the  County  of  Somerset,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  August  next, 
after  the  date  of  these  our  letters  patent,  and  thereafter  at  such  time  or 
times,  place  or  places,  within  the  said  counties  as  to  them  or  the  rnajor 
part  of  them,  shall  seem  meet  and  convenient,  and  then  and  there  by  plu- 
rality of  votes  choose  a  president  out  of  them,  for  the  time  being,  who  shuil 
have  the  custod}''  of  the  seal  or  seals  of  the  said  corporation,  and  all  books, 
charters,  deeds,  and  writings,  anyway  relating  to  the  said  corporation,  and 
shall  have  power  from  time  to  time,  and  all  times  hereafter,  as  occasion 
shall  require,  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  said  trustees,  at  such  place  within  the 
said  counties  as  he  shall  think  convenient,  for  the  execution  of  all  or  any 
of  the  powers  hereby  given  and  gi'anted,  and  in  case  of  sickness,  removal, 
or  death  of  the  president,  all  the  powers  by  these  presents  granted  to  the 
president  shall  remain  on  the  senior  trustee  upon  record,  until  the  re- 
covery of  the  president  or  until  a  new  president  be  chosen  as  aforesaid : 
And  we  do  further  will,  ordain,  give,  or  grant,  that  every  act  and  order  of 
the  major  part  of  the  said  trustees,  consented  or  agreed  to,  at  such  meet- 
ing as  aforesaid,  shall  be  good,  valid,  and  efi'ectual  to  all  intent  and  pur- 
poses, as  if  the  said  number  of  the  whole  trustees  had  consented  and 
agreed  thereto  :  And  we  do  further  will  and  ordain,  that  all  the  acts  of  the 
said  trustees,  or  any  of  them,  shall  from  time  to  time  be  fairly  entered  in 
a  book  or  books  to  be  kept  for  that  purpose  by  the  president  of  the  trus- 
tees, for  the  time  being,  which  book  or  books  to  be  kept  for  that  pur- 
pose by  the  president  of  the  trustees,  together  with  the  seal  of  the  said 
corporation,  and  all  charters,  deeds,  and  writings  whatsoever,  any  way  be- 


202  ^NPPEXDIX. 

longing  to  the  said  corporation,  shall  be  delivered  over  by  the  former  pre- 
sident, to  the  president  of  the  said  trustees  newly  elected,  as  such  pre- 
sident shall  hereafter  successively  from  time  to  time  be  chosen :  And  we 
do  further  of  our  special  grace,  certain  knowledge,  and  mere  motion,  for 
us,  our  heirs  and  successors,  by  these  presents  give  and  grant  unto  the 
said  trustees  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  the  ministers,  elders,  and 
deacons  above-named,  and  their  successors  forever,  that  they  and  their 
successors  all  and  singular,  the  rights,  privileges,  powers,  benefits,  emolu- 
ments, and  advantages,  to  be  hereby  granted,  shall  and  may  forever  here- 
after, have,  hold,  enjoy,  and  use  without  hindrance  or  impediment  of  us, 
our  heirs  or  successors,  or  of  any  of  the  justices,  sheriffs,  escheators,  coro- 
ners, bailiffs,  or  other  officers  and  ministers,  whatsoever,  of  us,  our  heirs  or 
successors,  and  that  these  our  letters,  being  entered  upon  record  in  our 
secretary's  office  of  New-Jersey,  and  the  record  and  the  enrollment  thereof 
and  either  of  them,  and  all  and  every  thing  therein  contained  from  time  to 
time  and  at  all  times  hereafter  be  and  shall  be  firm,  valid,  good,  sufficient, 
and  effectual  in  law  towards  and  against  us,  our  heirs  and  successors,  ac- 
cording to  the  true  intent  and  meaning  hereof,  and  in  and  through  all 
things,  shall  be  construed  and  taken  and  expounded  most  benignly  and 
in  favor  for  the  greatest  advantage  and  profit  of  the  trustees  of  the  said 
Dutch  Reformed  Church  of  Raritan,  North-Branch,  New-Brunswick,  Six 
Mile  Ruii,  and  Millstone,  in  the  counties  aforesaid,  and  their  successors 
forevei',  notwithstanding  any  defect,  default,  or  imperfection  may  be  found 
therein,  or  any  other  cause  or  thing  whatsoever.  In  testimony  whereof  we 
have  caused  these  our  letters  to  be  made  patent,  and  the  great  seal  of  our 
Province  to  be  hereunto  affixed,  and  the  same  to  be  entered  of  record  in 
our  Secretary's  office  of  said  Province  of  New-Jersey,  in  one  of  the  books 
of  record  therein  remaining,  witness  our  well-beloved  and  trusty  Jonathan 
Belcher,  Esq.,  our  Captain-General  and  Governor-in-Chief,  in  and  over  our 
said  Province  of  New-Jersey,  Chancellor  and  Vice-Admiral  of  the  same,  by 
and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  our  council  of  our  said  Province, 
at  Burlington,  the  seventh  day  of  June,  and  in  the  twenty-sixth  year  of 
our  reisn. 


IT. 

LIST   OF   MEMBERS  IN  FULL  COxMMUNION  MAY  1st,   1704. 


1.  Jacobus  Van  Nuis. 

2.  John  Schureman, )  * 

3.  Ann  Deremer.       ( 

4.  Peter  Vredenburgh. 

5.  Johannah  Van  Ilarlingen,  widow 

of  Garret  Voorhees. 

6.  William  Van  Dcursen,    ) 


Ann  Stryker. 

*  These  braces  indicate  husband  and  wife 


8.  Treytje  Tan  Wicklen,  widow  of 

Fransis  Van  Dyke. 

9.  Mary    Young,    w.    of  Abraham 

Ouke. 

10.  Magdelina    Varitine,    widow    of 

Thomas  Douty. 

11.  Edward  Van  Harlingen. 

12.  John  Outselt. 


APP£NDIX. 


203 


Jr. 


13.  Ephraim  Vantine, 

14.  Johaunah  StoothofF. 

15.  John  Thomson,  ( 
10.  Jane  Strykcr.      ) 

17.  EUzabeth    Fisher,    w.    of    Peter 

Yredenbergh. 

18.  Margaret    Standley,     widow    of 

Frederick  Outgclt. 

19.  Barent  Strj'ker,      ) 

20.  Ehzabeth  Bennet.  \ 

21.  Peter  Yredenbergh 

22.  Frederick  Outgelt. 

23.  Abraham  Schuyler, 

24.  Alechi  Voorhees. 

25.  Ehzabeth  Van  Dyke,  widow  of 

Frederick  Van  Liew. 

26.  Catahna  Vooi'hees,  w.  of  Matthew 

Egerton. 

27.  Neltje  Voorhees,  widow  of  Ferdi- 
^.    nand  Schureman. 

28.  Neltje   Schureman,  w.  of    John 

Van  Harlingen. 

29.  Ann    Schureman,    w.    of  Isaac 
Vantine. 

30.  John  Van  Este. 

31.  Cornelius  Kapleje. 

32.  Janetje  Cornell. 

33.  Garret  Voorhees,  ) 

34.  Maretje .        \ 

35.  Dina  Ditmars,  w.   of  Benjamin 

Vantine. 
30.  Susana  Van    Este,    w.    of    Je- 
romus  Rapelje. 

37.  Elizabeth    Campbell,    widow   of 

Charles  Vantine. 

38.  AerientjeNevius. 

39.  Denice  Van  Liew, 

40.  Dinah  Durye. 

41.  Peter  Voorhees,  ) 

42.  Mary  Buys.         ) 

43.  Elizabeth    Deremer,    w.   of  Jo- 

seph Sillcox. 

44.  Mary  Snoterly,  w.    of  Leonard 

Nighmaster. 

45.  Ariantje  Croesen,  w.  of  William 

Nevius. 

46.  Catelina,wid.  of  LucasVoorhees. 

47.  John  Wykoff. 

48.  Frederick  Van  Liew,  [ 

49.  Ann  Rappelje.  ) 

50.  Mary  Van  Arsdalen,   w,  of  Abra- 

ham Lott. 

51.  Cornelius  Suydam,  ) 

52.  Rachel  CoUens,        \ 

53.  William  Van  Duyn,  ) 

54.  Lena  Voorhees,      .  j 


56, 
57 
58, 
59. 
60. 

61. 

62. 

63. 

64. 

65. 

66. 
67. 

68. 
69. 

70. 
71. 
72. 
73. 
74. 
75. 

76. 

77. 

78. 

79. 

80. 
81. 
82. 
83. 
84. 
85. 


87. 
88. 
89. 

90. 
'Jl. 
92. 


Mary  Stolts,  w.  of  Frederick  Out- 
gelt. 

Ariantje  Van  Este. 

Catelina  Cornell. 

Rachel  Totten. 

Mary  Ryder,  w  of  Roelef  Cornel. 

Elizabeth  Stevenson,  w.  of  Peter 
Voorhees. 

Martha  Mount,  widow  of  James 
Voorhees. 

Anetje  Cornell,  w.    of  Cornelius 
Van  Derbilt. 

Arientje  Cortelyou,  w.  of  Roelef 
Cornell. 

Jane   Nevius,    widow    of  Ryck 
Van  Derbilt. 

Maria  Mellcger,  w.  of  Isaac  Ben- 
net. 

Ida  Van  Derbilt. 

Christina    Pietersen,     widow  of 
Joris  Rappelje. 

Neeltje  Nevius.     • 

Aaltje  Rappelje,  w,  of  Hendrick 
Suydam. 

Simon  Probasco. 

John  Buys. 

Catherina  Collier. 

John  W^hitlock,        ) 

Eleanor  Voorhees,  ) 

Geertje    Vantine,    w.    of    David 
Nevius. 

Jane  Williamson,  w.    of  Corne- 
lius Van  Duyn. 
Machteltje  Peterson,  w.  of  Jere- 
mias  Rappelje. 


Lott, 


of  John   Van 


Doretta 
Liew. 

Ann   Ilance,    w     of  Dirck   Van 
Arsdalen, 

Ann  French. 

Nicolas  Bordine. 

Philip  Ouke. 

Peter  Ten  Eyck. 

Magdalena  Messerole. 

Margareta  Vredenberg,  w.  of  An- 
drew Powers. 

Lenah  Van  Devoort,  widow   of 
John  Messerole. 

Abraham  Ackerman,  ) 

Jane  Romeyn.  j 

Altje  Tunison,  w.  of  John  Van 
Est. 

Bernardus  Garretsen. 

Abraham  Lott. 

Martha  Striker,  widow  of  Albert 
ColUns, 


204  APPEKDIX. 


98.  Catherine  Covenhoven.  f 


03.  Martha  Collier,  w.  of  Garret  Ger-  I  90.  Frances  Covenhoven. 

ritsen.                                            |  97.  Nicolas  Van  Brunt,  ( 

94.  Dinah   Ilardenbergh,    widow  of 

Rev.  J.  R.  Ilardenbergh. 

95.  Eleanor  Hendrickson,  w.  of  John 

Buys. 

V. 

MEMBERS  OF  THIS  CHURCH  WHO  HAVE  ENTERED  THE    GOS- 
PEL MINISTRY. 

The  following  members  who  united  with  this  church  by  profession  of 
their  faith,  have  gone  forth  to  preach  the  Gospel.  I  include  the  names  of 
the  five  sons  of  Mr.  Frelinghuysen  and  the  two  sons  of  Mr.  Leydt,  though 
they  do  not  appear  among  our  members.  But  they  stand  on  our  register 
of  baptisms,  and  as  this  was  their  home,  it  is  a  natural  inference  that 
they  here  united  with  the  church  by  profession.  I  omit  a  list  of  about  the 
same  number  who  were  members  by  certificate : 

HECEIVED.  LICENSKn. 

Rev.  Theodore  Frelinghuysen 1745 

"    John  Frelinghuysen 1750 

"     Jacobus  Frelinghuysen 1753 

"     Ferdinandus  Frelinghuysen 1753 

''    Hendricus  Frelinghuysen 1755 

"     Samuel  Verbrvck 1744  1748 

"    Matthew  Leydt 1778 

'*     Peter  Leydt 1788 

"     Abraham  Van  Horn 1786  1788 

"     John  S.  Vredenbergh 1796  1800 

"    John  Schureman,  D.D - 1797  1801 

"     Robert  Bronk 1811  1813 

"     Nicholas  J.  Marsellus,  D.D 1812  1815 

"    Abraham  D.  Wilson 1812  1815 

"     Jacob  D.Fonda 1817  1819 

"     James  B.  Ten  Eyck 1818  1821 

"     David  Abeel,  D.D 1821  1826 

"    Jefferson  Wynkoop 1821  1824 

"     Robert  J.  Blair 1822  1823 

"     John  G.  Tarbell 1822  1825 

•'     Samuel  Centre 1822  18— 

"     Ira  Condict  Boice 1823  1826 

"     Cornelius  C.  Van  Arsdale,  D.D 1824  18— 

"     Frederick  B.  Thompson 1827  1834 

"     John  Manley 1828  1831 

"     Richard  L.  Schoonmaker 1828  1832 

"     Jolin  Forsyth,  D.D 1828  1832 

"     John  C.  Van  Liew, 1829  1832 

"    Peter  D.Oakey 1830  1844 

"     James  A.  H.  Cornell 1837  1841 

,.-.               "     Martin  L.  Schenck 1837  1840 

;        . ^"     Charles  S.  Hageman D.D 1837  1843 

'    '             "    Paul  D.  Van  Cleef,  D.D 1837  1846 

"    JohnA.  Staats 1837  1840 


APPENDIX.  205 

RECEIVBD.  LICENSED. 

Rev.  John  L.  Janeway 1837  1840 

"  David  D.  Demarest,  D.D 1837  1840 

"  William  H.  Steele 1837  1840 

"  John  Do  Witt,  D.D 1837  1842 

"  William  A.  Cornell 1838  1844 

"  Abel  T.  Stewart 1838  1846 

"  Cornelius  E.  Crispell,  D.D 1838  1842 

"  Charles  R.  Von  Romondt 1841  1844 

"  William  D.  Buckelew 1841  1851 

"  Abraham  V.  Wyckoff 1842  1845 

"  James  B.  Wilson 1842  1851 

"  John  N.  Jansen  1848  1851 

"  Philip  Furbeck 1848  1851 

"  William  W.  Letson 1850  1854 

"  Robert  R.  Proudfit 1855  18— 

"  Alexander  Proudfit 1855  18— 

"  Nathaniel  H.  Van  Arsdale 1856  1867 

"  Richard  M.  Whitbeck 1858  1862 


INSCRIPTION   ON    THE    MONUMENT    ERECTED   TO   THE   MEMORY   OF   REV.    JOHN    H 

LIVINGSTON,  D.D. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  the  Rev.  John  H.  Livingston,  D.D.,  S.T.P.  Born  at  Poughkeepsie, 
State  of  New-York,  May  30th,  1746 ;  educated  for  the  ministry  at  the  University  of  Utrecht,  in 
Holland ;  called  to  the  pastoral  office  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  in  New-York,  in  1770 ; 
appointed  by  the  General  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  in  America,  their  professor  ia 
didactic  and  polemic  theology,  in  17S1,  and  elected  to  the  presidency  of  Queen's  College,  New- 
Jersey,  in  ISIO.  There,  in  performance  of  the  duties  of  his  office,  and  blessed  in  the  enjoyment  of 
mental  energy,  high  reputation,  and  distinguished  usefulness,  he  suddenly  but  sweetly  fell  asleep 
in  Jesus,  January  20th,  1825,  in  the  seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age,  the  fifty-fifth  of  his  ministry, 
and  the  forty-first  of  iiis  professional  labors.  In  him,  with  dignified  appearance,  extensive  eru- 
dition, almost  unrivaled  talents,  as  a  sacred  orator  and  professor,  were  blended  manners  polished, 
candid,  and  attractive,  all  ennobled  by  that  entire  devotion  to  his  Saviour  which  became  such  a 
servant  to  yield  to  such  a  Master.  In  token  of  their  gratitude  for  liis  services,  and  veneration  for 
his  memory,  the  General  Synod  have  ordered  this  monumental  stone  to  be  erected. 


INSCRIPTION     ON     THE     MONUMENT    ERECTED     TO     THE     MEMORY    OP    REV.    JOHN 
SCUUREMAN,  D.D. 

Beneath  this  stone  are  deposited  the  remains  of  Rev.  John  Schureman,  D.D.,  professor  of  pas 
toral  theology,  ecclesiastical  history,  and  church  government,  in  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church,  at  New-Brunswick ;  who,  while  engaged  in  a  course  of  active  and  highly 
useful  labors,  enjoying  the  confidence  of  the  churches  and  the  affections  of  his  brethren,  departed 
this  Hfe,  May  15th  1818,  in  the  fortieth  year  of  his  age. 


206 


APPENDIX. 


yi. 


CHURCH  OFFICERS. 


ELDERS. 

April, 

1717  Roelef  Seebring 


1718  Aart  Aartsen 
Isack  Van  Dyck 
Roelf  Seebring  I 

1719  Jan  Afen 
Laurens  Willeras 

1720  Charles  Fontein 


1721  Roelef  Nevius 
Jobannes    Folker- 

sen 

1722  Thomas  Bowman 


1724 
1725 

1727 

1732 
1733 

1734 

1735 

1736 

1740 


Jobannes  Stoothof 
Roeljih  Nevius , 
Tbomas  Bowman 
Minne   Tan  Voor- 

hees 
Johannes  Stoothof 
Minne  Van  Voor- 

hees 
Ilendrick  Fisher 
Hendrick  Fisher 
Abraham  Ouke 
Roelef  Nevius 
Roelef  Seebring 
Roelef   Van  A'oor- 

bees 
Albert  Voorhees 
Petrus  Slegt 
Hendrick  Fisher 
Ilendrick  Fisher 
Roelef  Nevius 
Abraham  Ouke 
Qerrit  Gerritsen 


1741  Jeremiah  Van  Der- 

bilt 

1742  Hendrick  Fisher 
Gerrit  Gerritsen 

1743  Hendrick  Van  Leu- 

wen 
Roelef  Voorhees 

1749  Cornelius  Bennett 

1750  'William    William- 

son 
Gerrit  Gerritson 

1752  Hendrick  Fisher 
Chris'n  Van  Doom 

1753  Petrus  Sleght 

1754  Johannes    Messe- 

laer 

1756  Cornelius  Bennett 
■William  Van  Duyn 

1757  Hendrick  Fisher 


Ilendrick  Bries 
Roelf  Lucas  (Van  Voor- 
hees) 

Johannes  Folkers 
Hendrick  Bries 
Roelef  Lucas 

Jacob  Ouke 

Hans  Stoothoff 
Hendrick  Bries 
Laurens  Wilimse 
Minne  Van  Voorhees 

William  Moor 
Hendrick  Fisher 
Abraham  Ouke 

Hendrick  Fisher 
Albert  Voorhees 

Albert  Voorhees 
Abraham  Ouke 


Cornelius  Bennet 
Jeremias  Van  Derbilt 
Peter  Wilnisen 
Jakobus  Buys 


Dirck  Van  Arsdalen 


Derrick  Van  Arsdalen 
Gerrit  Fabryck 
Jan  Aten,  Jr 
Nicolas  A'an  Dyck 
William  Davids 
William  Wilirasen 
Abraham  Van  Dooram 
Nicolas  A'an  Dyck 
Christian  Van  Dooram 
Peter  Slegt 


Hendrick  Van  Deusen 
Johannes  M^selar- 
Abraham  Heyr 


Derrick  Van  A'eghte 
Abraham  Van  Doom 
Andrew  Meyr 
Johannes  Pchureman 
Archibald  Tomson 
Peter  A'redenburg 

Albert  Voorhees 
Abraham  A'an  Doom 


DEACONS. 
Cornelius  Seebring 
Ernestus   A'an   Harlin- 

gcn 
Jacobus  A'an  Nuise 
Hendrick  A'an  Derbilt 
John  Thompson 
James  Stryker 
AVilliam  A'an  Deursen 
John  Thomson 
Peter  A'redenburg,  Jr. 

Jacobus  Stryker 
Johannes  A'an  Neste 
Frederick  A'an  Leuwen 

Frederick  Outcalt 
John  Thomson 
Denice  A'an  Liew 
John  Bice 


ELDERS. 

1765  Hendrick  Fisher 
Fernard      Schure- 

nian 
Derrick  V'n  Veghte 
Johannes    Schure- 

inan 
John  M.  A'an  Har- 

linger 

1789  Peter  Vredenburg 
William  A'an  Deur- 
sen 

1790  Adrian  Ilapeman 
Abraham  Schuyler 
Rynear  Smock 

1793  John  Schureman 
John  A'an  Neste 
AVilliam  A'an  Deur- 
sen 
Garret  A'oorhees 

March  12,  1794. 
♦Denice  A'an  Liew  Peter  A'.  A'oorhees,  son 

Peter  A'redenburgh,  Jr.        of  Garret 

Francis  CovenhoTen 

April  5,  1795. 
Peter  A'redenburgh,  Sr.    Nicholas  Bordine 
Nicholas  A'an  Brunt         Cornelius  Rappleyea 

April  25, 1796. 
James  Striker  Philip  Oke 

Garret  A'oorhees  John  AVyckoff 

April  20,  1797. 
John  Thompson,  Sr.         Cornelius  Van  Debilt 
Frederick  Outgelt  Simon  Anderson 

April  20,  179S. 
Denice  A'an  Liew  Francis  Covenhoven 

Abram  Schuyler  Henry  Cock 

May  14,  1799. 
Nicholas  Bordine  Benjamin  Taj-lor 

AVilliam  A'an  Deursen      Abram  A.  A'oorhees 

Mat  13, 1800. 
Peter  A'redenburgh,  Jr.    John  A'an  Liew 
Peter  A'oorhees,  of  Mid-  Peter  Tenike 
dlebush 

May  19,  ISOO. 
*t Abram  Schujler 

JruE  15,  1801. 
Frederick  Outcalt  Ruliff  Cornell 

*William  A'an  Deursen    Jerome  C.  Rappelyee 


March  ! 
Philip  Oake 
Garret  Voorhees  '1 


0, 1802. 
Abm.  Lott 
Cornelius  Cornell 


April  17,  1 803. 
Cornelius  Meflar  Benjamin  Taylor 

Nicholas  Bordine  Simon  Anderson 

Mat  19, 1804. 
Denice  Van  Liew  Frederick  Outcalt,  Jr. 

Alexander  Rosegrants     John  A'an  Harlingen 


*  Reelected. 


t  To  fill  vacancy. 


f  Died  in  otGce. 


APPE^'DIX. 


207 


ELDERS,  DEACONS. 

May  5, 1S05. 
"William  A'an  Deursen      Peter  Voorhees 
l"j-ederick  Outcalt  Philip  Piersoa 

JIay  10,  ISOG. 
John  ■\Vyckoir  Petei-  S.  Wyckoff 

I'liilip  Oake  Ueiiry  Cook 

May  8,  1S07. 
Abram  Schuyler  lienjamin  Taylor 

Nicholas  Uoriline  John  Boice 

May  14, 1S08. 
John  Van  llailingeii        Richard  Lujiaiilus 
Jeromus  C.  Kappleyee     John  Van  Liew 

May  15,  1809. 
Fretlerick  Outcalfc  Abraham  Vonrhees 

William  Van  Deursen      liernardus  Uider 

May  12,  ISIO. 
Philip  Okey  Henry  Van  Arsdalen 

Peter  Voorhees  (Middle-  David  Fine 
bush) 

May  1,1811. 

Benjamin  Taylor  *Abraham  Voorhees 

Peter  WyckolT  Jacob  Bergen 

July  15,  1812. 
AVilliam  Van  Deursen      Dennis  F.  Van  Liew 
Garret  Voorhees  Frederick  Outcalt,  Jr. 

May  U,  1S13. 
Nicholas  Bordine  John  Boice 

Abm.  Brower  Peter  1'.  Voorhees 

Apeil  30, 1S14. 
Richard  Lupardus  Abm.  Van  Arsdalen 

John  Wyckoff  Peter  Gordon 

tllenry  Van  Arsdalen 
tJohn  D.  Van  Liew 

Aprils,  1S15. 
*IIenry  Van  Arsdalen      *Jolin  Boice 
*Johu  D.  Van  Liew  Garret  Van  Arsdalen 

MAKca  11,  1S16. 
Peter  Voorhees  Henry  Outcalt 

Peter  Vredenburgh,  Jr.    Jacob  J.  Bergen 
Abraham  Voorhees  tUriah  Lott 

John  P.  Van  Liew  (one  Henry  Johnson 

year)  William    French  (one 

year) 

March  IS,  1S16. 
tFrancis  Covenhovea 
tBernardus  Ryder 

March  17, 1817. 
Henry  Cock  George  G.  Nevius 

Peter  Gordon  'WiHiam  Hajramaa 

Philip  Okey  *$  Uriah  Lott 

Skptember  15,  1S17. 
tJames  Schureman  Richard  Manley 

March  17,  ISIS. 
John  D.  Sutphia  Frederick  Van  Liew 

John  Boice  Henry  Hoagland 

Garret  Voorhees  +Abm.  Van  Arsdalen 

April  20,  1S19. 
Dennis  F.  A'an  Liew         Thomas  Letson 
Frederick  Outcalt  Henry  Outcalt 

lleury  Van  Arsdalen        Garret  Van  Arsdalen 


ELDERS.  DEA(  OXS. 

April  28, 1S19. 
tJames  Schureman 

April  IS,  1820. 
Garret  Van  Arsdalen       *Richard  Man  ley 
John  C.  Wyckoff  Denice  Van  Liew 

Jeromus  Rapplcyea  Cornelius  I.  Wyckoff 

+ Jacob  J.  Bergen 

May  3,  1821. 
I  Peter  Voorliees  Nicholas  Booraem 

I  David  Fine  Abm.  0.  Voorhees 

George  G.  Nevius  John  Van  NortVTick 

I 

May  10,  1S22. 

John  D.  Sutphin  Jacob  Wyckofl" 

:  William  French  Henry  H.  Schenck 

I  Henry  Hoagland  John  Stothoff 

I  April  7,  1823. 

Francis  Covenhoven         Adrian  Manley 
;  Henry  Outcalt  Robert  Lyle 

■  Frederick  Outcalt  Rulif  Van  Nostrand 

[  Aprils,  1824. 

Peter  Gordon  *Henry  H.  Schenck 

I  Peter  Voorhees  David  Nevius 

Henry  Van  Arsdalen        David  D.  Nevius  (MiJ- 

tPhilip  Okey  diebush) 

tPrederick  Van  Liew 

May  29, 1825. 

George  G.  Nevius  Jacob  Wyckoff 

Thomas  Letson  Alim.  0.  Voorhees 

Abraham  Voorhees  Isaac  S.  Brower 

tHenry  V.  Demott 

April  1,  1S26. 
•  Richard  Mauley  Abraham  Suydam 

j  Cornelius  I.  Wyckoff        Henry  Vroom 
Jacob  I.  Bergen  *Henry  V.  Demott 

March  26, 1827. 
I  Frederick  Outcalt  George  Boice,  Jr. 

I  *Thomas  Letson  Abm.  V.  Thompson 

j  Henry  H.  Schenck  Isaac  G.  Sillcocl;s 

March  24,  1S28. 
Henrv  Van  Arsdalen        Richard  Duryea,  Jr. 
John'Stothoff  Powell  Dehart 

Nicholas  Booraem  Ralph  Voorhees 

March  23, 1829. 
George  G.  Nevius  William  Mann 

Jacob  Wyckoff  David  Nevius 

David  Fiae  James  Garretson 

March  31, 1830. 
Richard  Manley  Abraham  Suydaui 

Henry  Outcalt  Henry  Deliart 

Frederick  F.  Van  Liew     Cornelius  Van  Doren 

Febkuaky  23,  laSl. 
Henry  II.  Schenck  Henry  Vroom. 

Isaac  (r.  Si'.lcocks  Lewis  Carman 

Isaac  S.  Brower  AViiliaiu  Sunderland 

*tDavid  Fine 

Fedruaey  21,  1S32. 
Nicholas  Booraem  Powell  Dehart 

Richard  Duryea,  Jr.  Henry  V.  Demott 

John  Stothoff  William  W.  Van  Duyn 

February  18, 18.33. 
Thomas  Letson  Lewis  D.  Ilardenbergh 

George  G.  Nevius  Henry  Van  Liew 

Jacob  Wyckoff  George  Boice,  Jr. 

tDavid  Fine 


208 


APPENDIX. 


ELDERS.  DEACONS. 

FEimcAnT  14, 18.04. 
•.rohn  .''totlioff  Henry  Schenck 

Henry  II.  Schenck  John  Doty 

Abraham  Suydam  Nicholas  E.  Baynoa 

June  7,  1S34. 
TOeorge  Boice 

February  9, 1835. 
Powell  Dehart  John  W.  Brunson 

Lewis  Carman  James  Garretsn-n 

Kichard  Duryea,  Jr.         Cornelius   L.    Harden- 
bergli 

February  1, 183G. 
•Georpe  Boice  Jacob  T.  B.  Skillman 

Divid  Fine  David  Voorhes,  Jr. 

Nicholas  Booraem  John  De{?raw 

tPeter  Buckelew 

February  13/1857. 
Henry  H.  Schenck  Jacob  H.  Outcalt 

Corneliug     h.    Harden-  James  I.  Garretson 

bergh  Jaccb  A.  Van  Deveuter 

William  Mann 

February  5, 1838. 
Henry  Van  Liew  *David  Voorbces 


George  Boice,  Jr. 
Henry  Van  Arsdalo 


John  Doty 

Abraham  J.  Voorhees 


February  4,  1839. 
David  Fine  Johnson  Lctson 

Uioliard  Manley  Jolin  W.  Ber9;fn 

I^ewis  Carman  Juhn  H.  Stothoti 


February  S,  1S40. 
James  Garretson  Kichard  Outcalfc 

Peter  Wyckoff 
Nic'tiolas  Booraem 


Nioh.  R.  Cowenhovci> 
William  McDonald 


February  9, 1841. 
Jacob  AVyekoff  *John  H.  StothoO" 

John  Doty  James  II.  Newell 

Henry  Iloagland  John  W.  BnmsoQ 

Febsuary  T,  1842. 
Powell  Behart  Jacob  Dehart 

George  G.  NevKis  John  Johnson 

♦James  Garretson  Henry  Vroom 

Febuuasy  15, 1843. 
Henry  H.  Schenck  James  Van  Nuise 

Richard  Manley  Johnson  Letson 

David  Fine  George  Eldridge 

*tJacob  WyckoCr 

February  7,  1844. 
Richard  Outcalt  Peter  WyckolT,  Jr. 


Peter  Buckalew 
Jacob  T.  B.  Skillman 


Francis  C.  Manley 
John  M.  Uagaman 


February  5, 1845. 
James  Garretsen  William  Waldron 

John  S.  Letson 
Lewis  Applegate 


Abraham  J.  Voorhees 
Authur  B.  Sullivan 


February  4, 1S4G. 
Powell  Dehart  Robert  Van  Nuise 

Henry  Vroom  Benjamin  V.  Ackerman 

John  Doty  Stephen  Voorhees 

February  10, 1847. 
Henry  H.  Schenck  William  G.  Dehart 

John  Johnson  James  Van  Nuise,  Jr. 

John  W.  Bruasoa  Isaac  Voorhees 


ELDERS.  DEAC0N3. 

February  2, 1&4S. 
Peter  WyckoCf  Ralph  Van  NostramJ 

David  Vooi-hees  Peter  O,  Buckelew 

Lewis  Carman  James  Egerton 

February  7, 1849. 
Nicholas  Booraem  Cornelius  Van  Ncste 

David  Fine  John  A.  Manley 

William  Waldron  David  Cole 

February  5, 1850. 
James  Garretson  Jacob  Outcalt 

Henry  Van  Liew  Jesse  F.  Ilagaman 

George  Eldridge  Alfred  W.  Mayo 

FEBRrAKY  5,  1851. 
John  Doty  James  Wyckoff 

I  *llenry  H.  Schenck  Isaac  Voorhees 

Peter  Buckelew  Lewis  Ai)pIeBate 

May  7, 1851. 
*tPeter  Z.  Elmendorf 

February  11,  1852. 
James  Conover  Martin  Neviua 

Johnson  Jjctson  Peter  V.  WyckolT 

John  W.  BruDson  Stephen  Toorhees 

February  9, 1853. 
John  Doty  James  Van  Nuise,.  Jr. 

Richard  Outcalt  Wrlliam  G.  Dehart 

Cornelius  Van  Neste        George  Ackerman 

February  16, 1853. 
tWilliara  McDonald         tJesse  F.  Uagamais 

Febrvap.y  4, 1854. 
Abraham  J.  Voorhees      Ira  C.  Voorhees 
William  Waldron  Peter  Wyckoff,  Jr. 

James  Garretson  John  Clark,  Jr. 

February  15,  1855. 
Nicholas  Booraem  John  Bergen 

George  Eldridge  Ralph  Voorhees 

Henry  Van  Liew  Jonathan  B.  Conoelt 

January  31,  1856. 
John  Johnson  Robert  Van  Nuis 

Jacob  Outcalt  R.  V.  V.  Bailey 

Ralph  Van  Nostrand        Krozen  T.  B.^  Spader 


January  29,  1857. 


David  Voorhees 
Jacob  H.  Outcalt 
Johnson  Letson 


Rich'd  A.  A'an  Arsdale- 
Alfred  B.  Van  Derhoef 
Benjamin  V.  Ackerraaa 
*tJohn  Bergen 


February  11, 1858. 
William  McDonald  Isaac  Voorhees 

William  Waldron  Lewis  Ai>plegate 

John  W.  Brunson  Charles  Dunham 

tJohn  A.  Manley 

February  10, 1S59. 
Jacob  Dehart  James  H.  Sillcocka 

Ira  C.  Voorhees  George  Butler 

Martin  Nevius  James  Garretson,  Jr 

*tJohn  A.  Manley 

February  19, 1860. 
William  G.  Dehart  Peter  V.  Wyckoff 

James  Egerton  Abraham  A.  Voorhee» 

Peter  Buckelew  Jesse  F.  Uagamaa 


APPENDIX. 


209 


KLDKRS.  DEACONS. 

Februart  7,  1S61. 
•Tames  Garretsoa  Lewis  Applepate 


Johnson  Lftson 
David  VoorUees 


JonatliRn  B.  Cunnett 
George  V.  Smith 


February  6, 1802. 
John  Berfrcn  Henry  H.  Boornem 

.Tohn  W.  Bninson  John  H.  Tapping 

Isaac  Voorhees  John  S.  Dihart 

February  5,  1SC3. 
John  Johnson  George  Buttler 

John  M.  Hiigaman  Aflani  Liitz 

BL-njamin  V.  Ackerman  ifJohn  Clark,  Jr. 

February  4,  1S04. 
Nicholas  Booraem  Richard  A. Van  Arsdale 

Henry  Van  Liew-  Krozer  T.  B.  Spader 

John  V.  M.  Wyckoff        Abm.  A.  Voorhees 


ELDERS.  deacons. 

February  2, 1S65. 
Johnson  Letson  David  Coddington 


Martin  Nevius 
Ira  C.  Voorhees 


Jolin  Brunsoii 
Henry  V.  D.  Schenck 


February  8, 18C6. 


Isaac  Voorhees 
.Tohn  Beekman 
Jesse  F.  Hagaman 


Van  Marter  W.  Suvdam 
Gilbert  S.  Van  Pelt 
Henry  K.  How 
tJohn  S.  Dehart 


February  9, 1867. 

Ferdinand  S.  Cortelyou  John  S.  Stewart 
Lewis  Applesate  John  V.  H.  Van  Cleef 

George  Buttler  Nicholas  W.  Parsell 


YII. 


MEMBERS    OF    THE    FIRST    REFORMED    DUTCH    CHURCH    OF 
NEW-BRUNSWICK,   N.  J. 

(c  for  certificate;  m  for  living  members;  names  inclosed  in  braces  indicate  husband  and 
wife ;  names  of  ministers  in  small  capitals.) 


"  THE   CHURCH   MEMBERS  OF  THE   RIVER  AND  LAWRENCE   BROOK,   1717." 


Adriaen  Bennet  \ 
Angenietie  ) 

Aart  Aartsen  ) 
Elisabit  ( 

Isack  Van  Dyck  ) 
Barhera  f 

Roelof  Seebring  i 
Christyn  ) 

Johannes  Folkersen 
Angenietie 
Hendrick  Bries  \ 
Henne  i 

Roelof    Van    Voor- 
hees 
Helena 

Laurens  W'ilimsie  | 
Saara  f 

Roelof  Nevius  | 
Katalyna  f 


Jan  Van  Voorhees  | 
Neeltje  f 

Minne  Van  Voorhees  | 
Antie  f 

Samuel  Molfort 
Maria  Frelanth 
Jakobus  Oukee  ) 
Henne  ) 

Johannes  Stoothof  | 
Neeltie  ) 

Abraham  Bennet  I 
Jannitie  j 

Elisabit  Bries 
Jakis  Fontyn  I 
Annike  ( 

Siaarls  (Charles)  Fon- 
tyn 
Helena 
Annatie  Folkersen 


Jakobus  Buys  ) 
Marrietie  j 

Jan  Aten 
Thomas  Aten  ) 
Elsie  f 

Thomas  Davidts  ] 
Annatie  f 

Heelena  Ilogelandt 
Willim  Klaasen  ) 
Marija  j 

IMaregeretie  Reynierse 
Thomas  Bouwman  \ 
Neeltie  j 

Marten  Van  DerHoeve 
William  Moor 
Andries  Woortman  ) 
Jannitie  ) 

Johannes  Koevert  I 
Jannitie  f 


Birbara  Janse 
Niccklas  Bason 
Hendrick  Meesch  ) 
Annamadeline       ( 
Bernaidus  Kuetor  I 
Elizabeth  ) 

Johannis  Metsolaer 
Geurtie  Smock 
Elizabit  Smock 
Christofel  Van   Ars- 

dalen 
Madaleentie 
Jakop  Corse  | 
Adriaantie     ) 
Katrina  Boyd 
Cornelius  Sudam  )_ 
Maritie  f 

Joris  Anderse  ) 
Jacomendie     f 


The  above  list  comprises  the  original  membership  of  the  church,  and  was  completed  probably 
about  August  1st,  1717.  There  are  seventy-three  names,  embracing  that  portion  of  the  Three 
Mile  Run  church  living  in  the  neighborhood  of  New-Brunswick,  and  favoring  this  enterprise. 


April  5,  1720. 
Jacobus  Schurerman      Albert  Van  Voorhies  c  | 
Staetje    Staats,     w.   of  Arriaentie  a  f 

Hendrick  Blauw  c      William  Tysen   Van    \ 
Gillesje  Van  Esp,  w.  of      De  Rype  c  V 

Andi'ies  Bouwman  c  Aaunetje  j 

August  11,  1721. 
Abraham  Ouke  Cornelis  Bennet 

Hendrick  Vis3er(Fisher) 

September  20,  1728. 
Peter  Slegt  Koelef  Voorhees,  Jr. 

Peter  Willimsen 


Jan  Aeten,  Jr. 
Saertie,    wid.    of 
Voorhees 

u 


May  17, 1734. 

Catharintja  Slegt 


September  20, 1736. 


Jacobus  Garritsen 
Lemetje  Volkers 


Isaac  Jansen  e  i 
Jannetje  c         ] 


September  10, 173S. 

Anna    Baum,  wid.   of  Nicolas  Daily 

Jan  De  Peyster  Jannetje  Wilmsen 

Nicolas  Groesbeck  'Willem  Wilmsen 

Johanna  Corlear  Abraham  Haeir 

Catharina  Van  Eraburg,  Lea  Range 
w.  of  Richard  Gibbs 


1740. 

Aeltje  Van  Norden,wid.  Nicolas  Van  Dyck 
of  Jan  La  Monies  c    Jogina  Van  Norden 


210 


APPEXnX. 


I   Irla  llftKlrickson 
V  Dirck  St-buyler 
)   Isaac  Van  Nnords 


AvGCST  10,  1T41. 

Klizalietli  Paeyli  Gerlianius  Baucher  c  I 

Catliei'ina  Schuyler         Maria  De  Peyster  c       f 

John  JI.  Van  Ilarlin 
gen  c 

Maria  Hushing  c  )   Isaac  Van  Nnordstran 

llendrick  Van  Deur-  |   Archibald  Tompson 
sen  c  y  Hannah  Meier 

Arrieiitje  Staats  c        )   Susanna  French 

Dirck  Van  Vegten  c        Uebecca  Montaugue 

Maria    lieiUn,    wid.    of  Anna  Clarinson 

Josejili  Smith  c  Marrletje  Van  l)er  Bill 

Anna  >niitli,  \v.  of  lien-  Antje  Van  Aeisilalen 
drick  Langevekl  c       Aeltje  Van  Aersdalen 
March  29,  1744. 

Jacobus  Van  Nuis  Elisabeth  Ten  Eroecke, 

Samuel  Vkrbryck  w.     of     Dirck    Van 

Philip  Yong  Vegten 

Eva  Tys 

October  27,  1749. 

Jan  A'oorhees  |  Elizabeth  Meyer,  w.  of 

Neeltje  |  Petrus  Slegt 

Catel-yntje,  w.  of  llen- 
drick Blauw. 

November  9,  1750. 

Peter  Vnorhees  |   Antje   Deremer,  w.  of 

Sophia  Van  De  Boo-  >      Peter  Stryker 
gard  I  Andrew  Meyer 

Col>a  Scheurman,  w. 
of  Archibald  Thomp- 
son. 

November  2, 1752. 

Fredrick  Berge  c  |  Johannes      Martincs 

Gerretje  c  f  Van  Uarlingen 

Albert  Voorhees  c       )    Arnoldus  Van  llarlin- 

Adrianna   Van   Der-  V       gen 

voort  c  )    Johanna  Van   llarlin- 

Marparitje      Terhnne,       pen,    w.    of    Gerret 
wid.     of     Henricus       Voorliees 
Van  Dyck,  Elizabeth  Deremer,  w. 

Marritje  Van  Arsdalen  c     of     Abraham     Van- 

Petrus  Vredenbei'g  teyn 

Francois  Van  Dyck         Tremmetje  Voorhees 

Joliannes  Scliureman 

April  1,  1753. 

William  Van  Diiyn  {       Ealtje.  w.  of  Cornclus 


His  wife      j 
George  Anderson 
Denys  Van  Duyn  I 
l.ena  j 

Siuiou  Van  Wickleu 

His  wife 
Derek  Rappleyea  ^ 

His  wife 
Eelje,    w.     of 
Duyckin 


Piterson 
Antje,    wid.    of    Hen- 

driok  Smock 
Derrick  Volkersen 
Lidia,  w.  of  Cornelius 

Buys 
Peter  Cowenhoven  | 
Elizabeth  f 

Evert  Johanna  Daely,  wid.  of 

Bernardus  Begardus 


Marrytje.    w.   of    Jan 
Noordwyk 

October  25,  1754. 
Hendrick  Onderdonk  c  Elizabeth  Oathout,  w. 
Antje  Van  Gelder,  w.  of      of  Jan  Ten  Broek  c 
Johannes  Folkerse  c 

Mat  15,1755. 
Aasje   Krickson,  w.  of  Marytje  Wyckoff,  wid. 
Jan  Van  Orden  0  of  G.  Garretsen 

Mat  27, 1757. 
Hendrick  Van  Derbilt    Lena  Denyse,  wid.  of 
Cornelius  Sebering  Fredrick  Van   Lieu- 

Keyk  Van  Derbilt  wen 

Maria  La  Fever,  w.  of  Lebytje    Bries,    w.   of 

Johannes  Vanteyn  Hendrick  Fisher 

^'illiam  Van  Ueursen     Maria     Ouke.    w.     of 


December  23,  175S. 
.Tan  Misserol 
Lena  Vander  'oort 


«\ 


November  2,  1759. 
Johannes  Van         1       Genietje    Vredenburg, 

Schaick  c  V  w.  of   Laurens  A'aii 

Aleha  Bogart  c        )  Kamp 

Treytje  Van  Wickle,  w.    Maria  Oothout 

of  Francis  Van  Dyck  Elizabeth  Van  Deursen 

May  14,  1703. 
Gertruid  Schuyler,  w.   Ernestus  Van  llarlin- 

of  John  Cocliran  c  gen. 

Jannetje  Stryker,  wid. 

of  Jacobus  Stryker  c 

November  4,  1763. 
John  Philip  Herbit  c 

Mat  S,  17G4. 
Cornelius  Clapper 

JiXE  13,  17CC. 

Lucas  Voorhees         )      Denvs  Van  Leuwen   | 
Neeltje  Van  Derbilt  (      Ida  Wykholf  f 

Abraham  Van  Leuwen  I  Engelje,    w.    of    Jolm 
Eva  Ouke  )   .  Sleight 

April  17,  1767. 
Samuel  Molfort 

November,  1769. 
Catl.vntje   AVestervelt, 
w.  of  Johannes  Uy- 
der 

June  28,  1770. 

Jacobus  Van  Deven-  1  Magdalen,  vr.  of  Tho- 

ter                               \-  mas  Doughty 

Elizabeth  Springstein  )  Antje  Van  C'leef,  wid. 

Catrina  Stryker,  w.  of  of  John  AVilson 

AVilliam   Van  Deur-  John  Voorhees 

sen.         -  Fredrick  Oudgelt  C 

Maria    Voung,    w.    of 
Abraham  Ouke 


October  2,  1772. 


Angenitje  Bennet 
Catherina  Tenbroek,  w. 
of  Derrick  Van  Alen 


Abraham  Heyr. 


Jacobus  Cornel 
p;dward  Van  Harlihgen 
Letl'ert  Waklron 
Abraham  Ouke 
Johannes  Oudgelt 
Ephraim  Vanteyn    ) 
Johanna  Sloothoff  ( 
Johannes  Thomson  | 
Jannetje  Stryker      ) 
Jacobus  Uassert 


Geertruy  Scliuyler,  w. 
of  Peter  Voorhees 

Maria  Van  Derbilt,  w. 
»^f  Johannes  Voor- 
hees. 

Elizabeth  Fisher,  w.  of 
Petrus  Vroilenburg 

Margaret  Standley,  w. 
of  Fredrick  Uudgelt. 


September  16, 1773. 

Abraham  Freland  c  |  George  Anderson  | 
Lenah  Ackerman  c  |  Metje  Van  Wickelen  ) 
Abraham   G.  Acker-  |    Barent  Stryker      I 

man  c  >  Elizabeth  Bennet  f 
Jannetje  Romeyn  c    )    Jannetje  Voorhees,  w. 
Meyer,    wid.    of       of  Jacobus  Cornell 

Frans  Bralt  John  Sleght 


Mat  S,  1779. 


Peter  Low  | 

Janitje  Van  Deursen  j" 
Aaron  Gilbert 
Jacobus  Stryker 
Maria  Smyth,  wid. 
Maria  Lefevre,  wid. 


Altje  Tunison,  w.  of  Jo- 
hannis  Van  Nest  c 

Peter   Vredenburgh 
Jr.  c 

Margaret  Schureman 

Bernardus  Gerritsen 


c 

■J 


APPENDIX. 


211 


Junk  28, 1782. 


Neltje  Scliureraan,  vr. 

of  John  Van  Harlin- 

gen 
Antje   Schureman,   w. 

of  Isaac  Van  Tyn 
Neltje  Schureman,  wid. 

of  Ferdinand  Schure- 


Dirck  Deremer 
Kredrick  Outgelt 
Abraham  Scliuyler  | 
Aelchi  Voorhees       j 
Fredrick  Van  Lieuw- 

men 
Elizabeth  Van  Dyck 
Catelyna  Voorhees,  w. 

of  Matthew  Egerton 

November  9,  17S6. 
Abraham  Lott  c  Cornelius  Rappelje 

Martha  Stryker,  wid.  of  Jannetja  Cornel 

Albert  CoUyer  c  Garret  Voorhees    ^ 

Slartha  Collyer  c  Marretja  Ditraas   ) 

Dina  Hardenbergh,  w.    Dina  Ditmas 

of  Rev.  J.  R.  Harden-  Susanna  Van  Xeste,  w. 

berph  c  of  Jeromus  Rappleje 

Johannes  Van  Neste        Elizabeth  Cammel,wid. 
Abr.vham  Van  Hor.ne,       of  Charles  Fonteyn 

Jr.  Arriantje  Nevius 

Juke,  ITS". 
Adriaen  liegemen  c        Margaret  Snotterly,  w. 
Barbara  M.  Teison,wid.       of  Leonard  Nighmas- 

of  Richard  Gibbs  c         ter 
Nela  Ilendrickson,  w.   Ariantje  Croesen,  w.  of 

of  Johannes  Uuys  c        M'illiam  Nevius 
Dennice  Van  Liemv  |       Margareta   Nevius,  w. 
Dina  Durye  J  of  James  Renten 

Peter  Voorhees  (  Catalina,  wid  of  Lucas 

Marya  Buys       f  Voorhees 

Elizabeth  Deremer,  w. 

of  Joseph  Cilco.\ 

November  2,  1TS7. 
John  Wyckoff  Mary  Van  Arsdalen,  w. 

Fredrick  Van  Leuwen  (^       of  Abraham  Lott 
Antje  Rappeljee  ) 

Jdne  T,  17S8. 


rnrnclius  Puvdam  | 

Rachel  Colleiis         )" 

AVilliam  Van  Duyn  [ 

Lena  Voorhees  ) 

Maria  Low,  w.  of  Peter 
Dumont 

Maria  Stolts.  w.of  Fred- 
rick Outgelt 

Ariantje  Van  Neste 

Catalina  Cornel 

Itachcl  Totten 

Maria    Ryder,   wid.  of 
lioelf  Cornel 

November  8,  17SS. 

Peter  Crolius  c  [  JIarya  Mellger,  w.  of 


Elizabeth   Stephenson, 

w^.  of  Peter  Voorhees 
Martha   Mount,   w.   of 

Jacobus  Voorhees 
Annaetje  Cornel,  w.  of 

Cornelius   Van  Der- 

bilt 
Rachel  Collens 
Elizabeth  Steiihenson 
Martha  Mount 


I 
Mary  Lock  c      ( 
Tennis  Rappeljee    ) 
Antje  Dorlants        ( 
Ariantje  Cateljou,  w.  of 
Roelf  Cornel 


Isaac  Rennet 

Ida  Van  Derbilt 

Christeyntje  Pietersen, 
wid.  of  Joris  Rap- 
peljee 


Janetje  Nevius,  wid.  of  Aaltje  Rappeljee,  w.  of 
Ryck  Van  Derbilt  Hendrick  Suydam 


JnNR 
Frances  Covenhoven  o 
Simon  Probasco 
John  I?uis 
John  Whitlock      ^ 
Neely  Voorhees    ) 
Peter  V.  Dumont 
Geertje  Fonteyn,  w.  of 
David  Nevius 


6, 1789. 

Jennetje  Williamson, 
w.  of  Cornelius  Van 
Duyn 

Marchteltje  Pieterse, 
w.  of  Jeromus  Rap- 
peljee 

Doretta  Lott,  w.  of  Jan 
Van  Leuwen 


October  23,  1789. 
Jacobus  Stryker  c    I       Anne  Hans,  w.  of  Dirck 
Bara  Messelaer  c     j  Van  Arsdalen 

Anne  French 


July  7,  1792. 


Philip  Ouke 
Peter  Ten  Eyck 
Maria  Suydam 
Magdalene  Messerole 


Nicolas  Van  Brunt  c 
Catherine  Covenho- 
ven c 
Nicolas  Berdine 
Cornelus  B.  WyckoST 


July  20, 1793. 
Margarite  Vredenburgh, 
w.  of  Andrew  Powers 

May  3,  1794. 
Jacob  Rappleyee  Elizabeth,  wid.  of  Jaco- 

Joseph  Silcocks  bus  Gulick  c 

Maria,  Voorliees  w.  of  Abraham  Slover 

Jacjuish  Van  Liew       Maria  Van  Liew 
Ann,  w.  of  Jacobus  De-  Ann     Colcher,     w.    of 

hart  Ni<'h's  Bordine 

Elsey  Van  Dervoort,  w.  Sarah  Dehart,  w.  of  Ru- 

of  Abram  Voorhees         lif  Voorhees 
Sarah    Perine,     w.     of  Sarah   Van   Tine,  w.  of 

Rev.  Ira  Condict  a         Jacobus  Hogeland  c. 
Elizabeth  Trimbach   c  Helena,   wid.   of  Lucas 

w.   of    Stephen   Van       Voorhees 

Siclen 

October  5,  1795. 
Johannah  A'oorhees        Mary  Covenhoven,  w.  of 
Phebe  Tenike,  w.  of  Si-     Itendrick  Bergen, 
mon  Probasco 

May  2,  1795. 
Simon  Anderson    I         Catharine  Van   Derbilt, 
Mary  Van  Angler  f             w.  of  Jacob  Meserole 
James  Striker  c  I             Benjamin  Taylor  c  I 
Sarah  Mesler  c  (  Catharine c  f 

October  3,  1795. 
George  Rappleyee  (        Mary     Covert,     w.     of 
Jane  Beigen  (  Abram  Van  Doren 

Phebe  Van  Deveer,  w.  Johannah    Bennett,   w. 

of  John  M.  Voorhees      of  James  Perine 
Mary  Van  Tine,  w.   of  Maria     Farmer,    w.    of 


Jerome  Van  Este 
Henry  Outgelt  ( 

Margaret  j 

Henry  Cock 
Jane  G 


Cock  ( 
ulick  j 


Matthias     Van      Der- 
veer  c 
Nellie,  serv't  of  James 
Schureman  c 


April  23,  1796. 

Cornelius  Van  Derbilt    Jacob  Meserole 
Cornelius  Van  Doren      Sarah  Loop 
Polly  Lott  Getty  Wyckoff  c 

Jane  A'an  Nortwick,  w.  llilleje  Van  Debilt,  w.  of 
of  John  Bice  c  Dennis  Stryker  c 

October  22, 179G. 


John  Van  Ilarlingen 
Gerlring 


Cornelius  Cornel 
John  S.  Vrkdexbdrgu 


October  22,  1796. 
Sarah    Taylor,    w.    of  Christiana,  w.  of  Peter 

John  Viiorliees  Thompson 

Catherine  Van  Deursen  Ann  Thompson 
Sarah   AVhitlock,  w.  of 

Daniel  Brinson 

April  29,  1797. 

John  PcnuREMAN  Abraham  Voorhees 

Catharine,  wid.  of  Jas.  Catharine    Brown,    w. 

Brown  of  Philip  Oky 

Mary     Mount,     w.     of  Nancy    Farmer,   w.   of 

John  Voorhees  Jacob  Bordine 

Sarah   Johnson,  w.   of  Eve  Johnson,  w.  of  AVil- 

Abram  Buckeliew  liam  Van  Sichlen 

Cornelia,  serv't  of  Jas. 

Schureman 


212 


APPENDIX. 


October  21,  179T. 
John  Van  Devender        Benjiimin  Woodward 
Alclie  Rappleyea,  w.  of  Maria  Vredenburjih,  w. 

Jolin  Bergen  of  Matthew  Sleght 

Ann  Spader,  w.  of  Fred-  Ann  Van  Arsdelen,  wid. 

eiick  Van  Lienr  of  Hendrick  llulick 

Eve,    serv't   of  Abrara 

Voorhees  o 

April  15,  1793. 
Hulif  Cornel  Catharine  Haviland,  vr. 

Fre(Jeriek  Outgelt  |  of  Abram  Van  Tine 

Abi,i;al  Voorhees    )  Samuel,  serv't  of  Abm. 

Adrien  Van  Nostrand  )      A.  Voorhees 
Helena  Moserol  (  Maria  Meslar  c 

Ann  Voorhees,  wid.  of  Rem  Garrison  "| 

Jacob  Hazard  Elizabeth    Vacter    m  | 

Catliarine  Scoby,  w.  of      now     the    wid.    of  f 

Abraliam  Voorhees         John  Williamson     J 
Cornelius  Meslar  c  ( 
Aiiilriantha  — —  c  f 
Christiana    G'ddiman, 

wid.  of  Gideon  Van 

Canipen 

October  26, 1T98. 
Frederick  Van  Liew        John  Nevius 
Jane     Striker,    w.    of  Jane  Schureman,  w.  of 

Francis  Covenhoven       Abraham  Van  Arsda- 
Mary  llofmer  len 

Ceasar,  serv't  of  Jero-  Sarah  Nevius 

mus  Uappleye 

May  10,  1799. 
Peter  Voorhees  liernardus  Rider 

John  A'an  Liew  Autlie  Van  Doren 

Anna  Voorhees,  rr.   of  Ann    Smock,    wid.    of 

Peter  Vre<lenburgh         John  Outer 
Ellen   Schuyler,   w.   of  Margaret    Ellis,   w.    of 

John  Clark  AVm.  Van  Horn 

OCTOBKR  19,  1799. 
Garret  Nevius  John  Demott 

April  25,  ISOO. 
John  Manley    |  Elenor  V?'ilIiamson,  w. 

Charity  Adiiis  j  of  James  Schureman 

Lanah  Van  Tine,  w.  of  Elenor  Schureman 

John  Dunham  Catharine   Hude,    wid. 

Elizabeth  Nevius  of  Cornelius  Low 

Oke  Van  Ilanglen  c 
Lanah   Schureman,  w. 

of  Jonathan  Combs 

OCTOBEF.  10, 1800. 
John  Bergen  Anna,  w.  of  John  Van 

Lanah  Voorhees,  w.  of      Liew 

Peter  Voorhees  Mary  Cock,  w.  of  Caleb 

Betsey  Garretson  Haviland 

May  8,  1801. 
Philip  Pierson  Sarah  Garrison,  w.  of 

Mary     Rowlin,    w.    of      Dirck  Demutt 

John  Nevius  Temperance  Tallmage, 

Peter  Wyckoff  C      )  w.  of  Abratu  Acker- 

Gertrude  Nevius  c  )  man 

Alexand'rllosecransc  )  Scitje  Nevius  C 
Mary  Wortman  c         ) 

JOLY  12,  ISOl. 
Mary    Baldwin,   w.   of 

Philip  Pierson  c 

October  2,  ISOl. 
Dinah    Van    Wicklen,  JaneVan  Middleswarth, 

wid.of  JohnProbasco      w.  of  John  Bennet  c 
Catharine  Van   Arsda-  Barbara  Garrison,  wid. 

len,  w.  of  John  Van      of  John  Voorhees 

Nostrand  Idah  Garrison 

Eli/.abeth,  w.  of  Martin  Catharine  Garrison 

Cozine  C 


April  30, 1S02. 
William  Nevius  Elizabeth  Voorhees 

Luke  Knight  Hannah  Hoagland,  w. 

Catharine,  w.   of  Jno.       of  Joakitu  Van  Ai"3- 

Van  Arsdalen  daleu 

Abraham  Van  Arsdalrn 

October  16, 1802. 
Daniel  Pierson 
Elizabeth  Covenhoven, 
w.  of  George  Rapple- 
yea 

April  29, 1S03. 

Mary  McNeil,  wid.   of  Creshe  Van  Derripe,  w. 

John  Beunet  of  John  Van  Nuise 

October  15,  1803. 
Jerome  Rappleyea,  Jr.    Cornelius  Dehart 
Elise   Underdunck,    w. 
of  John  Stotoff 

May  19, 1804. 

William  Dehart  Elizabeth  Jaquish,.  vr. 

Sarah  Voorhees,  w.  of      of  Nich,  Van  Brunt 
John  Perine  Johannah  Striker,  w.  of 

Anna  lieyiiolds,  w.  of      Martinus  Stepliison 
Christian  Van  Nort-  Sarah    Smock,     w.    of 
wick  c  Abram  Voorhees 

October  20,  1S04. 
Idah   Omerman,  w.  of  Jane   Covenlioven,  w. 

Cornelius  Dehart  of  Garet  Nevius 

Nancy    Service,   w.   of  Catharine  Silcocks,  w. 

Isaac  llulick  of  Aaron  Ross  c 

May  5,  1805. 
Peier  Wortman  c 

October  27,  1805. 
Anne    ITouten,    w.    of  Agnes  Ackerraan,  w.  of 

Hendrick  Van  Dyke         Daniel  Pierson 
Joseph      and      Phebe, 
servants    of    Henry 
Vacte  c 

'      May  10, 1806. 
Richard  T,upardus  David  Fine  c       ) 

John  D.  Striker  c  Ann  Cortelyou  c  ) 

May  3, 1807. 
Henry  Van  Arsdalen      Dennis  Van  Liew 
Willard  Preston  Hannah,     servant     of 

Lidia  Carle  c  Staats  Van  Deurseu 

October  3,  1307. 
Slargaret  Schureman 
Elenor  Rue,  w.  of  John 
Gordon  c 

May  14, 1808. 
William  French       |        Geoi-ge  Lott 
Catharine  Stothoff  j        Jane   Voorhees,   w.   of 
Martha  Vacte,  wid.  of      Richard  Manley 
Jacobus  Garretson 

October  29, 180S. 
Cornelius  Bordine  Garret  Van  Arsdalen  I 

Abigal   Denton,   w.    of  Alche  Dehart  f 

Obadiah  Buckelew      William  Hagaman  c 
Robert  Watts  C  ) 
Ann  Bell  c  ) 

May  6,  1809. 
Nicolas  Borum   )  Elizabeth       Montania 

Mercy  Rolf         )  wid.  of  Ambrose  Ap- 

John  H.  Caile  pleby 

Patience    Williamson,  Sarah,  serv't  of  Samuel 
w.  of  Joshua  Martin        Dunham 


APPENDIX. 


213 


OcTOBKn  14,  ISflO. 
Harriet  Suydam,  ir.  of  Mary  Schuyler,  wid.  of 

Michael  Garrish  m  Mattliew  Rue 

Anna  Voorliees,  w,  of  Anna    Breese,     w.     of 

Minard  Wilson  Guisbert  Dehart 

February  5, 1810. 
Henry  Johnson 

May12,  1810. 
Elizabeth   Demott,    w.  Sarah  Carle,  w.  of  Vtm. 
of  Philip  Okey  Van  Doreii  Tunison  c 

Mary    Reed,     wid.    of 
John  Allen  c 

October  20,  ISIO. 
.Jacob  .7.  Bergen  (  Cornelius  A'evmule 

Syche  Bergen        j  Klenor  Van  Doren 

Kliza   A'an    Ilarlingen,  Helichy  Van  Arsdalen, 

w.  of  Uriah  Lott  w.  of  John  Nevius 

Mary  Thompson,  w.  of  Jacob  E.  Tunison  c 

Peter  Bennett 

May  1,1811. 
RoBKRT  Bronck  Peter  Gordon  ) 

Helena  Van  Liew,  w.  of  Caroline  Van  Liew    J  m 

Garret  Van  Liew  Mahala  Everett 

Mary  Kenon,  w.of  John  Harriet  Van  Arsdalen, 

Williamson  widow     of      Rynear 

Elizabeth  Hulick.wid.  c      Smock  c 
Gertrude,  wid.  of  Mar-  Tone,  freedman  of  Uy- 

tin  Nevius  c  near  Smock  c 

May  16, 1812. 

Thomas  Letson  Lewis  Carman 

Garrett  Parsells  George  G.  Nevius 

Zilpah  Allen,  w.  of  Hen- Elizabeth   Mauley,    w. 

ry  Van  Arsdalen  of  Daniel  Ellison 

UiCHAKD  Slu  YTER  c         Harry,a  person  of  color  c 

November  21,  1S12. 
Nicholas  Booraera  m      Abraham  Blauvelt 
Nicholas  J.  Marselus  Frederick  Ver  Muilen 
Abm.  D.  Wili.ox  James  Ogilvie 

Ann  Dunn,  w.  of  Hen- 
ry Van  Nortwick 

May  14, 1813. 
Abigal  Perrine  Abm.  Brewer,  M.D.  c 

Ann  Schureman  Elizabeth       Stouten- 

burgh  c 

October  2,  1813. 

Peter  Buckelew  Mary  Outcalt 

Catharine  Voorliees,  w. 
of  Lewis  Carman  in 

April  30,  1814. 


Richard  Manley 
Susan   Sllcocks,   w.   of 

Richard  Milnes 
Patience  Ryall,  wid.  of 

AVm.  Churchward 
Henry  Hoagland  c      I 
Gertrude  Van  Liewc  ) 
John  Voorhees 


Elizabeth  Van  Liew,  w. 

of  Joseph  Van  Doren 
Joseph,  serv't  of  Thos. 

Letson 
Susan,  w.  of  Rev.  Jesse 

Fonda  C 
Margaret  Johnson  c 


November  9,  1814. 

Jacob  R.  Hardenburgh  Ellen  Voorhees 
Ellen    Perrine,    w.    of  P.ter  Van  Liew  c 

Guisbert  Dehart  Sycho  Van  Liew  c 

John  Van  Liew  c  \  Jane    Probasco,    w. 

Magdalen  I  WyckofTc  f     Fiazee  c 

John  Swartwout  c 
Hannah  Solomon,  w.  of 

Wm.  Schanck 


November  11, 1814. 

Ellen  Emley,  w.  of  Jo-  Betty,  a  woman  of  color 
seph  Silcocks  John  Ludlow  c 

Mary  Ann  Clarkson,w.  Sarah  Van  Derhoven, 
of  Geo.  G.  Nevius  c        w.  of  William  Post 


April  26,  1815. 


John  A.  Burtis 
Dowe  D.  Williamson  ) 
Mary  Ann  Abeel  j 

Jane  Hassart,  w.  of  Da- 
vid Abeel 
Syche  Boice,  w.  of  Jon- 
athan Rue 
Elizabeth  Meserole,  w. 

of  Elijali  Hunt 
Rebecca  Jenkins,  w.  of 

Wm.  Low 
Elizabeth  Van  Horn.  w. 

of  Wm.  Williamson 
Sarah  Allen 
Amos  Cornell  c    I 
Mary  Totten  c      (" 
Mary   Voorhees,  w.   of 

William  Phillips  c 
William  Sclianck 
Henry  H.   Schenck, 

M.D.  c 
Ellen  Uardenbu: 


ncK 
;henck,  J 

burgh  c  \ 


Helen  Voorhees,    w.   of 
Nicholas  WyekoOf 

Ellen  Huyler,  w.  of  Hen- 
ry V.  Low 

Mary   Lawrence,  w.   of 
Nathaniel  McChesney 

Mary  Buckelew,    w.   of 
Peter  Buckelew 

Sarah    Manley,     w.     of 
(lenry  Hagaman  in 

Maria  Silcocks,    w.   of 
Christian  Van  Doren 

Margaret  and  Hannah, 
persons  of  color 

AvA  Neal  c 

Sarah  Van  Doren  c 

Elizabeth   Carsnn,  w.  of 
James  Denton 

Susan  Evertson 

Alida  Gaasbergh  c 


May  8,  1816. 


Peter  Skinkle 

Deborah  Voorhees,  wid. 
of  Garret  Van  Der- 
veer 

Catharine  Striker,  w.  of 
Andrew  Craig 

Sarah,  Mark,  Dinah, 
Phebe  and  Caty,  per- 
sons of  color 

CORNKI.IDS  BOGARDUS  C 

John  D.  Sutphin  c     ] 
Alletta  Van  Doren  e  ( 


Frederick  Van  Liew  ) 
Afaria  Voorhees  j 
Ann     Suydam,     w.     of 

Stephen  Mundy 
Ida  Van  Liew 
Sarah  Thompson,  w.  of 

Wm.  ILiIl  m  c 
Elizabeth  Tliompson,  vj. 

of  Abm.  Pittenger  c 
Mindart  Wilson  c   \_ 
Ann  Voorhees  c       J 


October  23,  1816. 

Cornelius  Wyckofif      )    Gitty  Ellison,  w.  of  Jon- 
Elizabeth  Van  Nest     j        athan  Dunn  m, 
Mary    Dumont,    w.   of  Elizabeth  Van  Devenfer, 

Samuel  King  w.  of  .Jacob  Wyckoffni 

Hannah  Dunham  Sarah  Van  Doren 

Elenor  Van  Liew  Rachel   Baldwin,  a  per- 

Margaret  Bergen,  w.  of      son  of  color 

Nathaniel  Compton  c  Mary  Brown, w.of  Benj. 
Elizabeth  Arrowsniith,       Taylor 

wid.  of  John  Kells 


April  25,  1817. 


.Tames  Schureman 
William  Henton 
Jacob  D.  Fonda 
Lydia   Cheeseman,   w. 

of  Jas.  Ackerman 
Ann  Britton,  w.  of  John 

Thorp 
Eleanor   Hendrickson. 

w.  of  Wm.  Van  Deur- 

sen 
Ralph  Van  Nostrand 
Julia  Ann,  w.  of  Caleb 

Peckham 
Ann  Stanley 
Kllen  Nevius 
Rebecca  Appleby 


John  Brown 

John  Van  Liew 

Ida  Van  Arsdalen,  w  of 
Henry  P.  Van  Arsda- 
len 

Eve  Voorhees,  w.of  Hen- 
ry H.  Schenck  m 

Lydia  Freeman,  w.  of 
Daviii  Schureman 

Margaret  Harris,  w.  of 
Abm.  0.  Voorliees 

John  C.  Van  Dervoortc 

Maria  Van  Liew 

Mary  Oakey 

Sarah  Ann  Potts 

Martha  Jenkins,  coloi:ed 


214 


APPENDIX. 


April  15,  1S18. 
Aflrien  Manley  I  Letitia  Schenck,  wid.  of 

("ath'i-iiie  Coverhoven  )      Israel  Harris 
Jiihn  Ditmars  Charity  Maiiley,  wid.  of 

Mary  Hn<reland,  wid.  of      John  Reed 

.lohn  Silcox  Mary  Vroom.  w.  of  Ja- 

Catliarine  Sohureman        cob  D.  Wyckoff 
Catharine  Van  Liew        Arietta  Van  Arsdalen 
Caroline  .M.  Hahkinson  Sarah  Sutphin 
(!  A BRiKL  Ludlow  <•  Hannah,  Dinah  and  Dl- 

Eleanor  Schureman,  w.      nah.  Persons  of  color 

of  C.  Johnston  Jared  Dewi\g  c 

Abraham  P.  Voorhees 

November  7, 1818. 
Abraham  Van  Tine         Jane    A'oorhees,    w.   of 
I'tichanl  Van  Arsdalen       John  H.  Speer 
Joanna  Schuyler,  w  .  of  llann:ih   I<yle,  w.  of  Ja- 

Staats  Van  Deursen        col)  Richmond 
Ann     DeKraw,     w.     of  Nancy   Hart,  w.  of  Cor- 

Amos  Flags  w*  nelius  Bergen 

Mary     (irifrgs,    w.    of  Catharine  voorhees 

Abm.  Lntt  Susan,  w.  of  Caesar  Rap- 

Klizabeth  Compton  pleyea,  colored 

Sarah  Probasco  Catalina  V.  S.  Kyley,  w. 

John  Rawls  c  of  Kev.  John  Ludlow  c 

James  1!.  Tkn  Etck 
Mary  Van  Brunt,  w.  of 

Peter  Garritson 

April  28, 1819. 
Henry  H.  Schenck  Robert  Lyie 

Mary    Sutphin,    w.  of  Rebecca    Remer,  w.    of 

Henry  Taylor  Henry  Oram 

Mary  D.  Combs,  w.  of  Mary  Marsh,  w.  of  Dan- 
William  Oram  iel  Van  Arsdalen 
Sarah  Taylor,  w.  of  Jas.  Ida  Van  Liew,  w.  of  Hen- 

Uaderilunck  ry  Demot 

Eleanor  Ten  Eyck  Eve  \VedselI 

Bftty  and  Caty  Smock,  Ann  Hopper,  w.  of  John 

persons  of  color  Van  Nortwick  c 

Elizabeth   Moncoucha, 

w.  of  Miles  Smith  c 

October  29, 1S19. 
Oeorcre  Rappleyea  Richard  W^ynkoop 

Cataline  Voorhees  Ann  Hulick,  w.  of  Angle- 

Hannah  and  Julia,  per-      burt  Hartough 

sons  of  color  Isaac  M.  Fisher  c 

Pevmouk  I.  FuxcK  c        Merman  B.  Sthyker  c 
Joseph  Wilson  c  Charles  Whitehead  c 

May  13,  1820. 
Mary  Hillyer,  wid.  of  John  Van  Nortwick 

Martin  Nevius 

November  25, 1820. 
Eve  Finley,  w.  of  John  Mary  Conover,  w.  of  Jo- 
Van  Horn  seph  Van  Doren  c 
Abraham  Fort  c             Ferdinand    Van    Der- 
Dow  Van  Olinda  c              veer  c 
Samuel  Van  Vechten  c  William  Ferry  c 

May  26, 1821. 
John  Stothoff    ^  Robert  J.  Blair 

IdaGarretson   j  Maurice  W.  Dwight  c 

Robert  Clark  and  Jane,  Catliarine   Burchan,  w. 

his  wife  c  of  Rev.  Isaac  Ferris  c 

Elizibeth  Vechte,  w.  of 

John  Williamson 

November  10, 1821. 
Phebe  Bennett  David  Abeel,  Jr 

Jacob  Wyckoff  Sarah  Conover 

Nancy  Seguine,  wid.  of  Dorothy  Van  Liew,  w.  of 

Cornelius  Wyckoff  m      H.  Traphagen 
Susan  Itowland  Abraham  Messler  c 

Jkfferson  Wynkoop      Gustavus  Abeel  c 
William  Cuuiksiiank  c  Wm.  S.  Dillingham  c 
Gertrude  Harris  c 
Catharine  L.    Uarden- 

burgh  }n 


April  27, 1822. 
Letitia  Brunson,  w.of  Harry  Quick,  person  of 

John  S.  Leison  color  m 

Sarah  Mount,  w.  of  Gar- Catharine    Sloor,   w.  of 
ret  D.  Stryker  John  Fine 

Maria  Jenkins 

October  20,  lSi2. 


of 


Abraham  J.  Voorhees  I 
Letitia  Happleyea         f 
Susan  Bennett 
Elizabeth  Bennett 
Maria     Bergen,     w 

Matthew  Kgerton 
Ann  Hassart  m 
Catharine  Stoothoff 
Mary  Van  Derveer 
Mary  Taylor,  w.  of  Geo. 

A.  Jenkins 
George  Boice 
Gertrude  (iordon,  wid. 

of  John  Cox  c 


Samuel  Center 
John  G.  Tarbell 
Isaac  Langstaff 
Ann  Van    Nuis,  w.  of 

Peter  WyckofT 
Maria   Bnrdine,   w.    of 

Archibald  Thompson 
Maria  Ann  Dentim 
Catharine  S'anley 
Kliza  Hutcliings 
Rachel  Voorhees 
Ann  Oakey 
Sarah  Van  Liew 
David  Nevius,  Jr 
Isaac  Fisher  c    I 
Maria  C  ( 

Elizabeth        Booraem, 

wid.  of  Abram  Van 

Nostrand  m 


April  26,  1S2-3. 

Ephraim  Marcelius  David  Nevius,  Jr. 

David  Nevius  )      Joseph  Brewer 

Jane  Van  Derveer     )      Garret  Nevius 
Ann  Martin  Isaac  S.  Brower  ) 

Margaret      Thompson,  Ann  Bennett         f 
w.  of  William  W.  Van  Mary,    wid.    of    James 

Duyn  Wilson 

Sarah    Nevius,    w.    of  Catharine  Lyle 

Isaac  Voorhees  Henry  V.  De  .Mott 

Catharine  French  Bexj.  Van  Keuuen  c 

October  19,  1823. 

Ira  Condict  Eoicb  Caroline  Ilapart 

Maria  Van  Liew  m  Mary   Schanck,   w.    of 

Catliarine  Outcalt,  w.  Henry  Solomon 

of  John  Vooi-hees  Pvjter  1{.  Voorhees     ^ 

Wm.  W.  Van  Duyn  Sirah  Garretson        ) 
Lanah  Voorhees,  w.  of  Caty,  person  of  color 

Dennis  Van  Derbilt  Hannah  Van  Arsdalen  c 
Elbert  Slingerland  c 
Hannah,  Eve  and  Sa- 
rah, colored  c 

January  4, 1S24. 

Cornelius  C.  Vas  Ars-  John  A.  Voorhees 
dalen  Lanah  Voorhees 

Susan  Boice 

Margaret    Cook,  w.  of 
Abm.  Y.  Schenck 

April  3, 1824. 

Mary  Stanburry,  w.  of  Elizabeth,  w.  of  William 

John  Hutching?  Mann  c 

Flora,  a  person  of  color  Charlotte,    daughter   of 
Mrs.Cath'rine  Herder  c       William  Mann  c 
Joanna  B.  Al>eel  c  Maria    Conover,   w.    of 

Joanna  Hardenberg  Jos.  A'an  Doren  c 


July  3,  1S24. 


Elizabeth  Nevius 
Mary  Packer  c  m 
James  Stevenson  c 


Peter  Voorhees  c 
Cornelius  Messier  C      ( 
Jemima  Ten  Eyck  c     ) 


September  25, 1824. 

Lanah  Van  Arsdale,  w.  Henry  V.  L.  Dehart 

of  J.  Stillwell  Maria  Reisner 

Flora,  a  person  of  color  Sarah   Minor,  w.  of  Jo- 
Chbist's  Z.  Paulison  c      seph  Hall  c 


APPENDIX. 


215 


July  2, 1S25. 
Harriet  Van  Tranken,  Stcpht-n  Ruler 

w.  of  Kev.  John   S.  Charlotte  Aniire,  wid.  of 

Mabon  Wni.  Suyiliini 

Catharine  S.  Conover    ElU-u  Thompson  c 
Frances  It.  Cook,  w.  of  Miriam,  person  of  col.  c 

Rev.  Jas.  B.  Ilarden- 

bergh  c 

October  9, 1S25. 
Catharine  R.  Tice  Ann   M.   Bridpen,  w.  of 

Matilda  Voorliees  Rev.   John   De   Witt, 

Dominicus  J.  Stryker  c      D.D.  C 
Henrietta  A.Vethake  m 
Jane  Metlar,  w.  of  Jas. 

A.  Van  Ueventer  m 

Jascary  16,  1S2C. 
Powell  Dehart  Mrs.  Davis  c 

Klizabeth  Fisher  AVilliam  Mann 

Elizahetli  Bunce,  w.  of  Susan  Ann  Taylor 

Stephen  Strong  Charity    Martin,   w.   of 

Ann  Fisher,  \v.  of  Law-       David  Lisk 

rence  Fislier  7n  Mercy  Dunn,  w.  of  Fred. 

Elizabeth        Stephens,       H.  Oiifcale 

wid.  of  Jacob  E.  Tu'  Henrv  Hkrmance  c 

nison  William  Sunderland  e  ) 

Benj.  B.  Westfallc      Leah  I'owelson  c  ) 

Cornelia,  w.  of  Rev.  Dr. 

AVoodhull  c 
Margaret    Steele,  w.  of 

Rev.  Philip  MilldoUar, 

D.D.  c 

April  16, 1S2G. 
Abm.  V.  Thompson         Mary  Pierson,  wid.  of 
Nelly,  wid.  of  Jerome      Ephm.  P.  Dunn 

Van  Derbilt  Lettitia  Rowland,  wid. 

Elizabeth    Stanley,   w.       of  John  Whitlock 

of  Peter  Obert  Providence  lUinyon,  w. 

Thomas,  svt.  of  Henry      of  George  Boice 

Veghte  Jacob  Davies  c      I 

Maria    Bmacli,    w.    of  Mary  Holford  c     ) 

Samuel  Thomas  c       John  J.  Powelson  c  } 
Alexander  M.  Mann  c  Maria  Dehart  c         f 
Isaac  G.  Sillcocks  c  (      Abraham  Suydam  c 
Nancy  Sebring  c       (      Hager   Calder,    person 
Henry  Vroom  c  of  color  c 

Jdly  29,  1S26. 
Catharine    Van    Nord-  Dinali,  svt.   of   Henry 

strand,  w.  of   A.  V.       Veghte 

Thompson  771  Jamks  Demarest  c        I 

Catharine,  w.  of  Jasper  Mary  Schoonmaker  c  j 

Provost  Elizabeth  French,  wid. 

James  J.  Garretsen  c  \       of  J.  Van  Vleet  c 
Elsie  AVortman  c         ( 

October  21,  I'^afi. 
Ann  Blakeney  Helen   Suydam.   w.  of 

Christina   Lyle,   w.   of       Aaron  IVnnet 

John  Van  Nuis  m       Sarah    Mundy,    w.   of 
Julia    Norman,   w.    of       Ralph  Vuorhees  m 

Wm.  V.  Ilardenbrook  Mary  Ann   C.   Wilson, 
Jane     Bergen,    w.     of       w.  of  Rich.  Duryee, 

AVra.  Wilson  c  Jr 

Harry,   a   man   of   co-  Maria  Arrowsmith,wid. 

lor  of  John  Chivis  o 

January  20,  1S2T. 
Richard  Duryee,  Jr        Richard  Van  Brunt 
Peter  Serviss  Frederick  B.  Thompson 

Julia  Ann  Low  Jane  Garretson 

Esther  Ten  Brook  Margaret  Baird,  w.  of 

Sarah  .\nn  Elberson,  w.       Jeremiah  Van  Liew 

of  John  Prall  Jane  Ten  Brook,  w.  of 

Mary  H.  Warren,  w.  of       Isaac  Voorhees  m 

Cornelius  L.  Harden-  Phebe     Lewis,     w.    of 

burgh  c  GrifTeth  Harriott  c 

Peter  Buckelew  c  }  Affee  Harriott,  woman 

Mary  Buckelew  c  )  of  color  c 

Sarah  Van  Derveer,  w.  Harry,  person  of  color 

of  Elias  Conover  c      Garret  C.  Schanck  c 


April  14, 182T. 
J'hn  M.  Hagaman  m     Maria  Harriet  Stanle.v 
Eliza  Thompson  Wi.  Abigal  Van  D>-venter  m 

Mary  Ackerman  Maria  Van   Harlingen, 

Susan   Maria   GrifTeth,       wid.  of  Abm.  Ditmars 

w.  of  Thos.  B.  Bell      Margeret     Henderson, 
Catharine    Van     Dine,       w.  of  Cornelius  De- 

wid  of  John  Ranken       hart 
Louisa  Gregory,  w.  of  Sarah    Willett,    w.    of 

Kev.  J.  G..  Tarbell  Nicholas  Boornera 

Dinah  Voorhees,  m         Jane  Van  Doreii,  m 
William  Wilson  c  Cornelius  Van   Doren, 

Mary  Ann,  w.  of  Rev.      Sen.  c 

John  Mulligan  C  Cornelius  Van  Doren,  1 

Sarah  Britton  c  Jr  c  •-- 

Martina  Talmage  C         Mary  Brokaw  c  ) 

Ann  Vredenburgh  c        Maria  C.Vredenburgh  c 
Ralph  Voorhees  Harriet  Vredenburgh  e 

July  14,  1S27. 
Martha     Hall,     w.     of  Maria   Messier,    w.   of 

Isaac  Silcocks  Peter  Blew 

Frances   Green,   w.  of 

Thos.  H.  Dunn 

October  14, 1S2T. 
Garret  Van  Riper  Gilbert  D. Van  Ar=dalen 

Margaret   Moore,    wid.  Ellen  Davis,  w.  of  Mah- 

of  Abm.  Hutcliings         Ion  Carel 
Magdalena  Bell  e  Lena  Van  Duj'ne  c 

January  19,  1S28. 
John  Manley  Mary  Ann  Manley,  w. 

Catharine   Van   Zandt,      of  Z3l)ulon  Mount 

w.  of  Clark  Smith        Caty   Baldwin,  colored 
Mrs.  Mary  Smith  c  person 

Ann  Van  Neste,  w.  of  William  H.  Cooper  c 

James  Harriott  o 

April  12,  182S. 
Isabella    Hull,    w.    of  Ann  Bennett,  w.  of  Wm. 

Henry  Sillcocks  7)1  W.  Scliureman  771 

Abigal   Sturges,   w.  of  Phebe  llnssart,  wid.  of 

Cornt  lius  Deliart  7;i        Dr.  Montgnniery 
Letitia  Hassart  Catharine  WyckolT 

Magdalen Terhune.wid.  Mrs.  Ann  Caldwell  c 
of  George  Talmage  c    Harriet  Caldwell  o 
Ann  Maria  Caldwell  c    Elizabeth,  col.  c 
Mary  Riley,  col.  c 

July  7,  1823. 
Mary  Loj'd,  wid.  of  Jno.  Alletta  WyckofT,  w.  of 

Hendrickson  Jereniith  Voorhees 

Jacob  Essis  c  Betty  Polhemus,  col.  c 

October  18,  182S. 
Richard  L.  Schoon.ma-  Henry  WyckofF 

KER  John  V.  Bobbins 

John  Forsyth  Elizabeth  (i.  Bell 

Thomas  Vail  Mrs.  Mary  Hampton  e 

Stephen  Ryder  o  Sarah   Schenck,    w.   of 

Elizabeth    English,   w.       Joseph  Van  Doren  c 

of  Abm.  Suydam  c     Frank,  man  of  color  o 


January 
Jacob  Van  Arsdalen 
Ann  Coddington,  w.  of 

Geo.  Boice,  Jr.  jn 
Henry  H.  Dehart  c  } 
Amelia  Lott  c  ( 

April 
Hannah  Blanchard,  w. 

of  Abm.  H.  Meyers 
July 
James  C.  Zabriskie 
Mrs.     Tlieodosia     Sut- 

phin  c 
Abraham  Bennett  c  ] 
Catharine  c  f 

John  Cannon  Van  Liew 


16,  1829. 

Francis  Hampton 
Jemima    Barkelew,   w. 
of  John  King  c 

6,  1S29. 

Charlotte  Dehart,  co- 
lored person 

5,  1829. 

Mary  Hagaman  c 

Ralph  Van  Norstrand 
c  m 

Birent  Voorhees  c 

Mary  Johnson,  colored 
person  c 


216 


APPENDIX. 


'M  October  12, 1S29. 

Abraham  T.  Sclienck      Henry  Schenck 
Cynthia  Stanley,  w.  of  Adraham  II.  Mevers  c 
Peter  Pncker'  Uacliel   Mundy,  w.  of 

Aiirianna  Vethake  c  Daniel  C.  Grue 

Ann  Dumont,  w.  of  Cor-  Catharine  S.  Deniee,  w. 
nelius  Emmons  of  Lewis  Conover 

Janpart  12,  1S80. 
Betsey   and   Julia,   co-  AUetta  Keekman  c 
lored  persons  Mrs.  Amy  Scott  c 

Mat  80, 1830. 
Mrs.  Ruth  Van  Tine        Martha  G.,  w.  of  Kev. 
Matilda  Manley  m  J.  J.  Janeway.  D.D.  c 

Samuel  Crane  c  MVilliani  Sunderland  c\ 

Frances  Itichardson  c  (  Leah  I'oivelson  c  j 

Sarah  Conover  c  Joseph  Quick  and  Nel- 

Susan  Fisher,  w.  of  Pe-      lie,  persons  of  color  c 
ter  P.  Van  Doren 

September,  1880. 
Peter  Davis  Oakky        I,eosard  Rodgers  c  I 
Oscar  II.  Grkcouv  c      Eliza  Fletcher  c        ) 
Johannah      Freeman, 
person  of  color 

December,  1S30. 

Rachel  Wooden,  w.  of  Sarah  Farmer,  w.  of  Pe- 

Thomas  Vail  ter  0.  Buckelew 

Susan     Clnyd,     w.  of  Julia  Henry,  w.  of  John 

James  Fisher  G.  Fisher 

Guisbert  Dehart  Joseph  Ilreese 

John  H.  Bkvier  c  Elihu  Doty  c 

Catharine,  wid.  of  lien-  Pkter  J.  Quick  c 
ry  Plum  c  m  Benjamin  Bassler  c 

February,  1831. 

Elizabeth  Dehart,  w.  of  Eliza  Maria  Hall,  wid. 

Abram  Van  Arsdalen      of  Chas.  A.  Stewart 
Sarah  Estler,  w.  of  John 

V.  N.  WaycoCf 

September  10,  1831. 

Gertrude  Abeel  Sarah,  wid.  of  Peter  R. 

Mary  Adeline  VanWag-      Voorhees 
ner.  w.  ot  Rev.  John  Jacob  A.  Van  Deventer 
C.  Van  Liew  John  W.  Brunson  | 

ohu  Thompson  Sarah  Van  Tine      ) 

December  24,  1S31. 

Catharine  Parker,  w.  of  Cornelius  Loyd 
Abm.  P.  Provost  John  C.  Baldwin  c 

Alexander    II.    War- 
ner c 


March  9, 1832. 


Peter  IT.  Blew 
John  H.  Stothoff 
John  Dnty  * 

Rebecca  Wyckoff  j 
Eliza  AVilliamson 
Harriet  Plum 
Margaret  Post  m 
Eleanor  V.  Manley 
Margaret  H.  Buckalew 
Helen  Maria  WyckoIT 
Robert  0.  Currie  c 
Wm.  J.  Van  Arsdalen 


Garret  V.  Manley 
Sarah  AnnWyckoff,  w. 

of  Daviil  S.  Uarrigues 
Deborah  Van  Derveer, 

w.  of  David  Coddiug- 

ton  »/i 
Catharine  Thompson  m 
Delilah  Dunn 
Margaret  G.  Harriott 
Sarah  E.  Manley 
Eleanor  Wyckoff 
Abigal  Van  Derveer 


JuNB  IG,  1832. 

Ann  Graham  c  Mary  Snowdan,  w.  of 

Rel)ecea  Parker  c  Rev.  S.  B.  Uow,  D.D. 

William  W.  I'errine  C  )  C 
Sarah  Voorhees  c        j 


September  8, 1S32. 


John  Degraw 
Cornelius    L.    Harden- 

bergh 
Jacob  Dehart  m, 
Nathan  F.  Denton 
Mary   Cheesman,   wid. 

of"  Rich.  White 
Elizabeth  Degraw 
Jane  Cox,  wid.  of  Peter 

Suydam 
Lewis    D.    Harden 

bergh  c 
Ellen  Voorhees  c 


Peter  V.  Degraw  } 

Elizabeth  J.  Conover  f 
William  E.  Conover 
Henry  Van  Liew  m 
Ann  Eliza  While  iii 
Jane  Fletcher 
Mary  Voorhees,  wid.  of 

Garret  Tlioin])son 
Dominicus  J.  Stryker  C 
Charles  E.  Fokd  c 


December  8, 1832. 

David  Voorhees,  Jr       |  Abraham  Bergen 
Ann  Eliza  Clarkson  m  )  Nicholas  E.  Haynon 
George  IJoice  Emma  L.  Il-ipart 

Jane  A'an  Sickell,  w.  of  Julia  A.  McKiiight,  w. 

Wni.  Goodhart  of    Rev.   A.    II.   Du- 

J.  T.  B.  Skillman,M.D.  1      mont  c 

c  V  Alexander  Gnlick  c 

Rachael  Ayres  c  m      )  William  J.  Pohlman  c 
Jane    Tisen,    wid.    of  Susannah  Staats  c 

Abm.  Staats  c 


March  9, 1833. 

John  Sloule  Eliza    Fletcher,   w.    of 

Fanny  .lane  Van  Liew        Rndgers 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Degraw  Eliza  Gulick 

James  H.  Newell  C       I 


Lewis  H.  Terrill  c 
Robert  A.  QriN  c 
Mercy  Ann  Manning 
Anthony  Voorhees,  per- 
son of  color 
James  Garretson  c  m  ) 
Catharine  Wortman  c  f 


Eliza  D.  Hankinson  c  f 
William  Reili.et  c 
Caroline  (Jreen,  wid.  of 

Samuel  Degraw 
John  F.  Mesick  c 
Harbison  Heekmance  C 


September  7, 18.33. 

Elizabeth  Harriott  m     John  A.  Voorhees  c   I 
Joseph  B.  Beeknian  e  I  Catharine  Outcalt  c    j 
Sarah  Burniston^C         j  Maria  Buckelew  c 
John  P.  Van  Arsdalen  c  Amanda  Buckelew  c 
Maria   Dumont,   w.   of  Jane  Van  Doren  c 

Wm.  Elmendorf  c 
Eliza  Webb,  w.  of  John 

D.  Hager 

December  7,1833. 

Samuel  0.  Crane  Hart  E.  AVaring  c 

Ferdnand    Y.    Cortel-  1  Sarah    Williamson,   w. 

you  c  r     "'^  John  Creed 

Margaret  G.Harriott  c  )  Mrs.     Catharine     Van 
Margaret  Smith  Ewing,       Middlesworth 

wid.  of  Dr.  Morris  c   Hannah  M.  Morris  c 
Ann   H.   Ayres,  w.  of  John  Wuitbeciv  c 

Henry  Van  Liew  c  m 

March  8, 1834. 

Henry  Solomon  Arrietta  Hoagland  c 

Maria  Voorhees  on  John  Pearman        ) 

Mary  Ann   Richmond,  Ida  Van  Arsdalon  (' 

wid.  of  Dr.  J.  Boyd     M.  ria  Ten  Eyck  m 

June  7,  1S34. 

Ida  Van   Liew,   w.  of  Rosannah     Rappleyea, 
Abraham  J. Voorhees      person  of  color, 

Elizabeth    Ann    Voor-  Mrs.  Nancy  Davis  c 
hees,     w.     of    Jacob  Hannah  Davis  c 
Outcalt  m  Dinah  I'erriue,  colored 

Henry  Hoagland  c      1        person  c 

Gertrude  Van  Lieu  C  j 

Jane  Jackson 


APPEXDIX. 


217 


September  20,  1S34. 
Eliza  Lawrence,  w.  of  Sarah    Dehart,    w.    of 

Jiimes  Van  Nuise  m       Mattliew  E.  Bergen 
Pliebe  Musherole,  «id.  Sarah  HoaKland 

of  Fred.  liuckelew       Archibald  M. Gordon  m 
Abraham  J.   Voorhees  John  Voorhees,  i)erson 

7/1  of  color 

William  McDonald 

Decembeu  13, 1S34. 
Kliza   Williams,  w.  of  Juliet    Smith,     w.     of 

Garret  Nafey  m  Lewis  Carman,  Jr 

Alice  Conover,  wid.  of  Jane    Kelley,    wid.   of 

llichd.  Rappleyea  Henry  Hoagland  »i 

Nancy  Dunliam  Mrs.  Maria  Ilcaglaud 

John  W.  Cortelyou  c  \   Ida  Beasley  c 
Mary  And  Beasley   c  \   Elmira  Howard  c 
Anna  L.  Stewart,  w.  of  John  Lilur  c 

John  H.  StothofF         Eve,  a  person  of  color 
Elizabeth  Gordon  c  m 

March  7, 18S5. 
Jacob  H.  Outcalt  m  )     Mary  Ann  Rappleyea, 
Prudence  Uunyon      (  w.  of  Nich.  Lefferts 

Syche  Boicc,  w.  of  Thos.  John  Pray  Knox  c 
Clark  cp 

JcNB  20,  1S35. 
Catharine  A.  Schenck     Mary  Jane  Tunison,  w. 
Mary   Voorhees,  w.  of       of  Jacob  Dehart  m 
Peter  Stevenson  Abraham  Voorheea  C 

Mrs.  Mary  Uishtraire  c  Wm.  Green  cj) 
Sarah  B.  Egerton  m 

Septe.mber  5,  1835. 
Simon  H.  Bergen  m        John  W.  Berpjen 
Matthew  E.  Bergen 
Eliza  Degraw 
Jane  Bordine 


Eliza    Conover,   w.   of 

Joseph  Rappleyea 
Hannah  Ten  Eyck  m 


Jane  White,  w.  of  John  Garret  Van  Liew 
Jackson,  persons   of  Elizabeth  Van  Liew 
color  in  Aaron  Van  Pelt 

Sarah  Stella,  person  of 
color 

December  5, 1S35. 
Catherine  Cortelyou,  w.  Ellen  Voorhees,  wid.  of 

of  Henr.v  Sillcocks  Eleazer  Losey 

L.vdia  Buckelew,  w.  of  Rachael  Van  Zandt,  w. 

Cornelius  Van  Sick-      of  Jonathan  Provost 

ell  ra  AVilliam  H.  Smith  c 

Jane  Van  Arsdale  c        Gertrude    Jane    Voor- 
Joanna  Voorhees,  w.  of       hees  c  m 

Voorhees  Cortelyou  c  Is  vac  P.  Strtker  c 
Cornelius  S.  Van  Sant-  Elizabeth    Van    Dyke, 

vooRD  c  wid.    of    Isaac    Ter- 

John  J.  Van  Antwerp  c      hune  c 

March  5, 1S36. 

Lucas  H.  Hoagland  m   Lydia  Mount,  wid.  of 
Eliza    Shaddle,    w.    of       John  Buckalew 

Johnson  Letson  m      Frances  Tilton 
Susan  Voorhees,  person  Mattliew  Brown  c) 

of  color  m  Garretta  Quick  c  ) 

Phillip       Milldollar 

Bbett  c 

June  18,  1S36. 

James  C.  Van  Derbilt  m  James  Egerton  7n  \ 
Eliza  AVendover,  w.  of  PhebeConover  ?;t  f 

Evert  Egerton  Margaret     Van     Nor- 

Helena  Hutchinson,  w.       strand  c 

of  Cornelius  Provost   Abraham  Bergen  c 
Cornelius  Van  Neste  c  1  Cornelia  Bnice 
Susannah  L.  Van  Der-  V  Catharine  Hamilton 

veer  c  m  ) 

Ellen  Voorhees,  wid.  of 

Isaac  Miller  c 


September  3,  1S86. 
John  M.  Hoagland  Martha  Garretson 

Jeremiah  AVhitenack  c  \  Henrietta  Van  Derveer 
AUetta c  J 

December  4, 1S36. 
John  A.  Manley  m         Elizabeth  Vredenburgh 
Ellen   Cox,  w.  of   Ste-  Ann  Makel,  w.  of  John 

jihen  Voorhees  Connelly  ni 

John  Johnson  c  Eosanna  Voorhees  c 

March  4, 1837. 
Jane  Voorhees,  wid.  of  Eliza  Provost  c 
John  H.  Speer 

June  3,1837. 
James  Fisher 
Richard  Outcalt  m 
Ralph  N.  Perlee 
Jnnathan  B.  Stewart 
AVilliam  Blakeney  ) 


Ida  Ann  Debar 
George  Eldridge  m 
Peter  A'rooin 
John  F.  Cornell 
Maria  Fulkerson,  w.  of 
Edwd.  Cunningham 


Henry  A'.  Dehart 
Isaiah  Rolfe         ) 
Cliarlntte  Mead  f 
James  A.  H.  Cornell 
Martin  L.  Schenck 
Mary  Augusta  Harris 
Eliza    Ajjplebv,   w.   of 

AVm.  Rhodes 
Abigal  A'oorhees,  w.  of 

Nich.  B.  Dehart 
Sophia  Fisher 


Catharine  Perr.v,  w.  of  Catharine  Flagg 


Eliza  Haviland,  w.  of 
Barent  Voorhees  rn, 

Catharine  Voorhees,  w. 
of  Anthony  Fanner, 


Dr.  John  Cool 
Marv  A'oorhees  Losey 
Adeline  Fisher 
Margaret  A\  D.  Haga- 

man  in 

Lucretia  Ann  Van  Nuis  Esther  Baldwin,  w.  of 
Mary  Ann  A'an  Nuis  Harry  Freeman 

Chas.  S.  Hagaman  Isabella  Stelle 


AVilliam  S.  Moore  c  ) 
Mary  Ann  c  ) 

Christopher  Giffing  c  j 
Catharine  C  ] 

Frederick  Outcalt 
AVilliam  G.  Dehart  w  i 
Maria  Schenck  m        j 
Ezekial  Miller 


Lemmetie  Lott,  wid.  of 
John  Ilemsen  c 

Catharine  Thompson  c 
m 

Thomas,  Dinah  Cono- 
ver, ?«,  and  Dlow, 
persons  of  color 


l-iv   ti- 


September  1,  1337. 


Adriana  Nevius,  w.  of 

Lewis  F.  Hunyon  in 
Ann  Lappleyea,  w.  of 

Nich.  R.  Cowenhoven 
Catharine  E.  Oakey 
Sarah  Mann 
Margaret  McNair,  w.  of 

Henry  V.  Dehart 
Catharine  Meseroll 
Louisa  Booraem 
Catharine  0.  Nevius 
Anna  Maria  Garretson 
Adeline  Bergen,  w.  of 

Nicholas     Hoagland 

m, 
F.rameline  Booraem 
Eveline  Oakey 
Johnson  Letson  m, 
Paul  D.  A^an  Clekf 
Peter  P.  AVyckoff  m  \ 
Jane  Howell  j 

James  AA'yckoflf  ) 
Sarah  Outcalt      ( 
Elizabeth  Parsells 
Mary  Ann  Heard 
Sarah  Ann  Dehart 
Ida  Voorhees 
Elizabeth  Boice 
Lewis  Api)legate  in 
Theodore  Dehart  m 
Luke  Hassert 
Abraham  Oakey  m 
John  L.  Janeway 
Abigal  Slover  c  o 


Joanna  A'an  Derbilt  m, 
Joanna  A'an  Deusen  m 
Getty  Ann  Voorhees  m, 
Alletta  Dehart  m 
Jane  Alletta  Degraw 
Catharine  Degraw 
Amelia  Miller 
Eliza  Jane  Garret 
Eliza  Luce,  w.  of  Isaac 

B.  A'an  Dyke 
Abigal  Voorhees  m 
James  A'an  Nuise,  Jr 
Rol)ert  A'an  Nuis  in, 
Richard  A.  Van  Arsda- 

len  m 
John  A.  Staats 
Abraham  Powelson 
AVilliam  R.  Janeway 
Elizabeth     A'an     Nor- 

strand  m 
Catharine  A'leet,  w.  of 

Peter  B.  Meserole 
Theodosia  Atkinson,  w. 

of  John  Nafey  m 
Margeret  Buckelew,  w. 

of  John  Connet  m, 
Mary  Ann  Gifflng 
Jolin  S.  Letson  ni 
Jesse  F.  Hagaman  m 
Henry   A'an   Arsdalen, 

Jr 
AA'illiam  Messeroll 
Louisa  Runyon,  w.  of 

Nelson  Boice 


21S 


APPEXDIX. 


46.   6 


I'L. 


Kliza  Freeman  cp  Alice  Thompson  cp 

Miivy  Eliza  Ueasoncr  cp  Flora  Lupardus  c  p  m 
JJetsey  l!er>;en  c  p  Jane  Ditniars  c  p 

AVilliaiii  ilartiiuirli  C       Henry  Freeman  c p 
Jons  IIen'uy  Ackersonc  Anthony  Farmer  c p  m 
Hester  Jiailey,  wid.  of  Feter  P.  Staats  c  (^ 

Isaac  Vredeuburgh      Catharine  Voorhees  c  ) 

September  25,  1S37. 
llAviD  D.  Demehest        AVilliam  H.  Steele 
December  3,  1S37. 


Jlobert  Mann 
Kliza  Van  Deursen  m 
Isabella  Mann 
John  Outcalt 
Harriet  McClelland 
Ann  McClelland 
Harriet  V.  Nafey 
Ann  Eliza  Hedden 
Cheesnian  Ackerman 
Maria  Bergen  a  p  in 
Nicholas  B.  Dehart 


John  De  Witt 
llebecca  Hall 
Getty  Hall 
Nicholas   R.  Cowenho- 

ven  m 
Amanda  Fisher 
Francis  C.  Manley  m  \ 
Mary  Ann  Meyers  m    j 
Phebe  Ann  Voorhees 
Squire  Thompson  cp  m 


March  3, 1838. 
Sarah   Sillcocks    w.  of  William  L.  Crawford 


CoRXRLirs  E.  Crispell 
Joseph  A.  Cross 
Maria    Nevius,    w 
Ditmars  Duryea 
David  Neefug  o      \ 
Lacomia  Lant  c     { 


of 


James  Siitphiu 
Alletta  Hall 
Nicholas  Booraem,  Jr 
William  AugustdsCor- 

NKLL 

Abrl  T.  Stewart 
Hannah  Conover  op 

June  2,  1888. 
Majidaline  Terhune,  w.  Abraham    Staats    Van 

of  Isaac  Boice  m  Neste 

Jane   Cornell,   wid.   of  Slary  Van  Siekell 

Cornelius  Tenbrook     Peter  WyckolT  c  p 
Lavinia  Scott,  wid.  of  Mrs.  Judith  Johnson  c 

Rev.  Richd.  V.  Day     Jane  Dumont  c  ni 
Abraham  A.  Dumont  e  I  Phebe  Dumont  e 
Judith  Davis  c  (Mrs.  Mary  A.  Van  Ars- 
Hector  S.  Van  Buren  c  (      dale,  w.  of  Paul  Lew- 
Jane  c                     f     is  Til 

September  1, 1838. 
Ann  Van  Sickcll  Sarah    Cory,    wid.    of 

William  Thompson  c  Enos  Ayres  c 

November  24,  1S3S. 
Betty  Tunison  c  p  C 

March  2,  1S39. 
Stephen  Voorhees  ??i 
5Iary  Ann  Kirkpatrick, 

w.  of  Rev.  S.  B.  How, 

D.D.  c  m 

June  1,  1S39. 
Mary  Ann  McNair,  w.  Samuel  Hopper 

of  John  Johnson  m,    Rachel    Peack,    w.    of 
Jane  Voorhees  James  Esler  c 

Anthony  Elmendorf  c    Mrs.  Harriet  Plum,  w. 
Maria    Walker,    w.   of      of  Edwd.  Miller  c  in 

Cornelius  Tunison  in 

August  31, 1839. 
John  Johnson  in  .Jane  Alletta  De^aw  c 

Elizabeth  Van  Middles-  Henry  Sodon 
worth,   w.   of   Lewis  John  Newton  Sciiultz 
Applegate  m,  Eliza  Degraw  c 

November  30, 1839. 
Gertrude  Ann    Merce-  Catharine  A.  Degraw,w. 
reau  in  of  Joseph  S.  Suydam  c 

February  29, 1840. 
Alary  Booraem  m  Matilda  Rappleyea  m 


JcsK  G,  1840. 
Peter  0.  Buckclew  Cornelia  C.  How-; 

Mary  Ann  Thompson  cp  Samuel  Naylor  c  J 
El'HRAIM  E.  Db  Puy  c 

September  5,  1849. 
Abigal  Kliza  Post  in       Sarah  Booraem 
Philip  Van  Arsdalen 

December,  1!?40. 
Ida,  w.  of  Henry  Van  John  Compton  c    I 

Arsdalen  S.vclie  Van  Liew  c  ) 

Ann  Duryea,  w.  of  Jas.  Wm.  E.  Turner  c 

Barcalow  Sarah    Van     Arsdalen, 

Abigal  D.  Wyckoff  wiii.    of    Richd.  Van 

Jacob  Outcalt  m.  Nostrand  c  m, 

Slargaret  Cassiday 

March  6,  1841. 
Garret  S.  Wycoflf  m  I     Huldah    Matilda    Car- 
Ellenor  Outcalt  j         man  m 

Lucy  Miller  cp  Samuel  W.  Mills  a 

Robert  Cleland 

June  5,1841. 
Chas.  R.  Von  Romondt  Ruth  Compton 
James  H.  Fonda  Abisjal    Vrnnm,    w.    of 

Dianah  JohnsoJ  c  p  Cor.  Suydam  c 

September  4,  1841. 
John  Pierman         (         Joana  Memory  c  p 
Ida  Van  .Vrsdalen  )  Rosana  WyckolT  c  p 

Mrs.  Zilpah  Van  Arsda-  Mary   W.   Van   Arsda- 
len c  len  c 
Catharine  WycoCf  c  p  c 

December  4, 1841. 
Cornelius  Suydam  AVilliam  H.  Van  Nort- 

William  Sunderland  c  (_     wick 
Leah  Powelson  c  ) 

March  5, 1842. 
William  Van  Home        William  D.  Buckelew 
Sarah  Jobg  Elizabeth  Gibson,  w.  of 

Sarah  Mercereau  in  Thos.  Hopper 

Lavinia  Sutphin,  wid.  Rebecca  Van  Nortwick, 

of  Garret  lireese  w.  of  Almi.  Oakey 

Johnson  Owens  Mrs.  Nighmaster  c 

May  2S,  1842. 
Anna  Beekman  Matthew  E.  Bergen  c 

Mary  Jane  Dunn  in        Mary  I'arsells 
Catliarine  Van  Derbilt,  Catharine  Henry,  w.  of 
w.  of  John  W.  Ber-      Jas.  Fisher,  Jr 
gen  Mary  Morfit  c  p  m 

Nelly  Van  Liew,  wid.  of  Mary  Skillman  c  pj  c 

Jonathan  Smith  c  A.  Bruyn  Hasbrouck  c  \ 
James  M.  Compton  c  Julia  F.  Ludlam  c  j 
Bergen  H.  Van  Fleet  C 

Septejiber  3, 1842. 

William  Nelson  Jine  Ann  Nelson  m 

Mary  Conover  c p  John  Henry  Stagg  / 

AVilliam  T.  Runk  c  Sarah  Stryker         f 
Adaline  S.  Nelson  m 

December  3,  1842. 

Abraham  V.  Wyckoff    Authur  B.  Sullivan  c    . 
Mary  B.  Dodd  c  Ann  B.  Iloagland  c  m 

March  11, 184-3. 
Paulus    Ellen,   wid.  of  Jane  Eliza  Sillcocks 

Dr.  Launy  Nancy  Stevens  c  p  m 

Isaac  Voorhees?)!  Margaret  Sullivan  c 

Catharine  Stothoff,  w. 

of  Powell  Dehart  c 


APPENDIX. 


219 


JcsB  3,  1S43. 
John  G.  Fisher  Cmnelius  Vim  Sickle 

James  B.  Wilsos  PMwarrt  M.  Voorhees 

Eliza  Bowne,  w.  of  C.  John  Van  Nuis,  Jr 

J.  Walter  m  Eliza  Hairiot,  w.  of  Cor- 

Maria    Voorhees,  wid.      nclius  Powelson  m 

of  Frederick  Outcalt.  Matilda  Montfort 
Susan  Voorhees  Mari^aretta  Van  Dyke 

Jane  Voorhees  Catharine  Jane  Manley 

Sarah  C.  Ackerraan  m  j;  Catharine  Ann  Manley 
Virginia  Plum  Peter  V.  Wyckoff  c  ni  I 

Mrs.  Sarah  Paynter        Eliza  AVilliamson  c  m  j 
Catharine  Maria  Pavn-  ^ 

ter 

September  2,  1843. 
William  Waldron  Benjamin  \.  Ackeman 

Martha  Bell,  vr.  of  .John      m 

Van  Nusuand  c  m 

Decembeh  2, 1S43. 
Hannah    Van    Sickell,  Ijucy  Van  Dyke  c /) 

w.  of  .Joseph  Brower   Catharine   Maria  Paj-n- 
Sarah  Paynter  c  ter  c 

March  2,  1844. 
(Jertnide  Solomon  Louisa  Johnson 

Mary    Elizabetli    Solo-  Catharine  Van  Arsdalen 
nion  Margaret  S.  Elmendorf 

Peter  Z.  Elmendorf  c  \_   Elizabeth  Elmendorf 
Maria  Van  Vecliten  c  ) 

MAir  31,1844. 
Garretta    Cowenhoven  Catharine   Ann    Powel- 

7it  son 

Catharine  Cowenhoven  Hannah  C.  Corwin,  w.  of 
Margaret  i\IcDougaI,  vr.       Stephen  A'oorliees  m 

of  John  Powelson        Sarah  Hai  tough,  wid.  of 
John  C.  Elmendorf  John  P.  Hall 

Gareta  Vroom,  wid.  of  Mrs  Margaret  Nevius  c 

Peter  Nevius  Ellen  Nevins  c 

August  31,  1844. 
Lj'dia  Van  Dyke 

NOVE.MBEB  .30,  1844. 
Sarah  Marsh  cp  Sophia  Fisher,  w.  of  Jo- 

Martha     Beekman,   w.       seph  A.  Beaver 
of  John  Van  Dyke 

March  1, 1845. 
Henry  H.  Booraem  m  I  Betsey  Simpson  c  p  m 
Maria  Van  Liew  in        ^ 
Margaret  Elizabeth 

Eichman,  w.  of  Peter 

A.  Van  Deventer  m 

September  6,  1845. 
Douglas  Smith  Sarah  Wyckoflf  Day  m 

Joanna  Voorhees,  w.  of  Jane  Bnice 

William  Nelson  t7l       Grace   Hudson,  wid.  of 
Isaac  Van  Arsdale  0  Horace  Kiley 

December  6,  1845. 
Ebenezer  Poor  Elizabeth  Cortelyou,  w. 

Jane  Helena  Manley  of  John  Ackermanc?» 

Joanna    Dehart,    w.    of 
John  Meserole  m 

February  20,  1S16. 
Clarissa  M.  Gray  ni        Sarah  Ford,  w.  of  Staats 
Clark 
June  6,  1346. 
James  S.  Taylor  c  )         Hannah  Voorhees  o 

Ellen c         f 

Ann  Eliza  Danberry,  w 
of  John  Nafey  e  m 

September  5,  1846. 
Stephen  J.  Voorhees       Elizabeth  Hnrriott,  w.  of 
Lewis  H.  Terrill  c  vi. 


December  5,  1546. 
James  Conover  Lavinia  Jackson,  w.  of 

Joseph  Z^briikie  iil 

March  6,  1847. 
Ann  Van  Nostrand         Elizabeth     V.    N.    A'an 
Margart   Fisher,  w.  of       Derripe 

Squire  Thompson  c  m  Afe  Brown  c  p  c 

October  2,  1S4T. 
Susan  Mary  Provost       Mary  Cowenhoven 
Maria  Buckelew,  w.  of  David  Ciii.b  c  \ 

Peter  W.  Van  Liew  m  Al)igal  D.  WyokoDT  c  f 
Cornelia  PoUiemus  C       Aliigal    Daviinn,  w.   of 
Pollen  Polhemus  c  Jacob  Sillcocks  c 

Joseph  Francis  C       \ 
Sarah  Ann c  ) 

December  4, 1S4T. 
Azariah  D.  Hall  Henrietta  Thompson 

Nancy,  w.  of  Jolin  II. 
Hooker  c 

March  3, 1848. 
Thomas  McCarty  Martha  V.  Wilson  c 

Sarah   Garretson,  wid. 
of Polhemus  c 

June  3,  1S4S. 

.ToHS  N.  Jansen  Ralph  G.  Voorhees 

Margaret   Denton  Cor-  AVm.  H.  Ten  Evck  C 
nell,  w.  of  John  Bor-  Catharine   Ten   Broeck, 
dine  Vi  wid.  of  David  Gulick 

Alfred  W.  Mayo  c      I      Nancy  Gulick 

Matilda  Errickson  c  f 

September  2, 1S4S. 
Elilabeth    Van    Sickel,  Hannah     Hunt,     w.    of 
w.  of  Ralph  Van  Nos-      Thomas  Bergen  C  p 
strand 

December  2,  1S4S. 
Jane  Combs  Ackerman  Henry  K.  How  e  m 
Mary  Smith  Ackerman  Emma   C,   w.   of  J.  V. 
Peter  Elmendorf  c  Spader  c  ?n 

Judith  Johnson  c  Krosen  T.  B.  Spader  cw 

Louisa  Jackson  c  Jane     Metlar,    wid.    of 

Henry  V.  D.  Voorhees  c      James  Van  Deventer  c 
Amelia  A.  Letson 

March  3,  1849. 
Mary  Ann  Collins  Emma  Schenck 

Catharine  Brown  Oak-  James  Waldron  c  p  C 
ey 

June  2,  1849. 
Ann  R.  Holbert,  w.  of  Pheb^    Pearsall,   w.    of 
Ira  C,  Voorhees  m      Jarvis  Wanser  «» 

September  1, 1840. 
Mrs.  Hannah  Schanckc  Theresa  Schanck  cm 


December  1,  1849. 


Samuel  R.  Walker 
Jane  G.  Gulick 


Caroline  II.  Hasbrouck 
David  Julian  c 


March  2,  1850. 

Garrendeanah  French,  John  V.  A.  Parsell 
w.  of  Peter  S.  Voor-  Mrs.  Shadrack 
hees  m  Ann    WyckofT,   wid.    of 

Henrietta  Suydam,  w.  Abel  Sammis 
of  Robert  Van  Nuis  Geoi-ge  Neefus 
711  John  Roberta 

June  1,  1850. 

Mary  Ann  Rappleyea,  Abby  Ann  Coddington 
wid.  of  Nicholas  Lef-  Philip  Furreck 
ferts  Abraham  B.  Perlee 

Matilda  Rappleyea 


220 


APPENDIX. 


Hailoy      I 
;rvelt  c    J 


August  31,1350. 

Martin  Nevins  TO        1    Ro vine  Moore  Dehartm 
Snrah  Ann  Van  Do-  V  Peter  Worttnan  c  | 
ren  m  )    Maria  Cortelyou  c  f 

November  30,  1S50. 

Sarah  Voorhees  Eliza  Schenck 

Sarah   Connver,  w.  of  (ieorge  Ackerman 

Jacob  A'an  Dyke  Matilda  Van  Liew,  wid. 
William  W.  Lktsox  of  Daniel  Disborcmghc 

Mary  S.  Hillyer  c  in  Catb.  Disborough  c  m 

March  1,  1S51. 

John  Clark,  Jr.  Sylia  15.  Hooker,  w.   of 

Sarah  A.  Hooker  Joseph  .\.  Heavers 

Catharine    V.    Thomp-  Mary  Ann  Hooker 
son  c 

M.\Y  31,  1S51. 

Cornelia  J.  Stults  Cornelius  Cornell  c 

Louisa    Booraem,  wid.  Mrs.  Marfraret  Smith  c 

of  Rev.  Jacob  Book-  Abraham  B.  Perlee  c 

slaver  c  m  Diana  Voorhees  c  p  C 

Septbmder  6,  1S51. 
Jane  E.  Parsell  m  Frederick  Van  Dyke 

llosina    Neefiis,   w.    of  Rensellear  Bailey 
Henry  Lyle  c  Eliza  Wester\ 

December  6,  1851. 
David  Coddinjrton  tn      Hannah  Kershow  cp 
Jehoiakim  Hartough 

March  6,  lS5-\ 

Henry  Sodon  Enos  A.  Skillman  TO 

Cornelius  Van    Der-"]    Sarah   Ann   Morren,  w. 

bilt  I        of  James  Conover  to 

Rosanna      Elizabetl 

Tunison  m 
Abby  Kliza  Buckelew      Catharine  Egerton  to 
Harriet  Ann  Voorhees  m 

May  2S,  1S52, 
Abby  Ann  Bush,  w.  of  Alletta  Jane  Flag 

Henry  Smitli  to 
Delilah    Dunn,   w.    of       to 

Juhii  Anderson  c  m    Slyndert  W.  Wilson  C  I 
Cornelia  Polhemus  c      Elizabeth  W.  c  ) 

September  3, 1852. 
Sophia  Van  Doren,  wid.  Mrs.  Nancy  Jennings  c 
of  Staats  Van  Deur-  Maria  Reeves,  w.  of  T. 
sen  K.  Thompson  c  p 

December  3,  1852. 
Augustus  Voorhees  in     Charles  C.  Guldin  C 
Sarah  F.  Voorhees  Ann  Klizabeth  Letson 

Elizabeth  B.   Codding-  Alice  S.  Frencll  m 

ton  Mary  B.  Eichman  m 

Ann  Letson,  w.  of  John  Fannie   A.  Price,  w.    of 

Van  Deventer  to  J.  V.  A.  Parsell  m 


f   Sarah  Jane  Smith,  w.  of 
J        Georire  Neefus 


wid 
of  Isaac  V.  Van  Doren 


March  4,  1853. 
Ira  C.  Vooiliees  m  Mary  Ann  Boyd 

Catharine      L.    McDo-  Mary    Elizabeth    Hoag- 

well,  w.  of  Israel  H.       land  TO 

Voorhees  m  Catharine    Mary    Cast- 

Jane  Ann  Ackerman  ner,   w.    of   J.   V.    L. 

Mary  Louisa  Bergen  m      Uoagland  c  m 
John  Bergen  m 

June  3,  1S53. 
Sarah  Hnagland  Jane  Ditmars  cp  C 

Maria  Voorhees,  w.  of  James  Garretson,  Jr.  TO 
Augustus     Voorhees  Anna  E.  Wortmaa 
tn  Susan  Veghte  c 


September  3, 185-3. 
Margaret  Miller,  w.  of  William  G.  Schultz  c  I 
William  Timmons  c  Margaret  Voorhees  c  ) 
m 

December  3,  1853. 

Isaac  Sillcocks  m  I         James  P.  Sillcocks  in  I 
llosina  Runvon  to  (  Cornelia  Sedani  m        f 

Ellen  Sedam,  w.  of  Jo-  Sarah  Augusta  Van  Ars- 
nathan  Connet  to  dale 

March  3,  1854. 

Almira  Nevius  Moses  Voorhees  c  p  C 

Alfred  B.  Van  Dehoef 

JrNE  2,  1854. 
.lonathan  B.  ConnettTO  Jane  Maria  Powelson 
Ly<lia  A.  Yates  llosannaRandolphcpTO 

Mrs.  Sarah   Paynter  c 

March  9,  1855. 
Robert  Ralston  Proud-  Ale.xander  PRornFiT 

FIT  Christiana  Voorliees,  tt. 

Sarah  Maria  Outcalt  of  John  Van  Norden 

Mary  Ann  Outcalt,  w.       m 

of  Peter  J.  Gnlick        William  Irvis  c 
Peter  J.  Gulick  c  Snah  Ann  Nevius  C 

Agnes  McDowell,  w.  of  Elizabeth  Jane  Nevius  c" 

Sam.  Api)legate  c  to 
John  D.  Neefus  C  1 

Mary   Ann   Van  Do   J- 

ren  c  ) 

Ju.NE  8,  1855. 
Jane    Connett,    w.    of  Jane  Schanck.w.  of  Levi 
James  H.  Sillcocks  m      K.  Schenck 

AcGfST  31,  1855. 
Abraham  A.  A'oorhees  Mary  Brunson 

m  Sarah     Lefferts.    w.    of 

.\daline  Dehart  in  Henry  L.  Stebbins  C 

NOVE.MBER  80,   1855. 
Letitia  Brrinson  Jane  Boice  c  m 

Anna  Coddington,  wid. 
of  George  Boice  c  in 

February  29,  1856. 
David  Nevius,  Sen.         Emma  Candice  c  p 

May  30,  1856. 
Nathaniel     II.     Van  Catharine  Ann   Borrian, 

Arsdale  w.  of  John  Cnnovcr 

Dinah  Conover  cp  Sarah  Garretson,  wid.  of 

Sarah   Uoagland,  wid.       Isaac  Polhemus  c  m 

of  E.  Johnson  c  TO       Magdalene  Boice  c 

September  5,  1856. 
Charles  Dunham  Tunis  Q.  Hall  c  Pi         ) 

Deborah  Ann  King,  w.  Susan   L.   Sunderland  v 
Abraham  Blew  c  C  ni  ) 

Sarah     Elizabeth     Sill- 
cocks 

December  5,  1856. 
Catharine      Cortelyou,  Ellen     Polhemu?,     wid. 

wid.  of  Thomas  Bell        of  Thomas  Skillman, 
Jane   Powelson,  w.   of       M.D.  c  m 

Eihvard  Christopher 

February  27,  1857. 
Eleanor  Nelson  to  Harriet  M.  Messier 

Nancy  Smith  cp  C  Dinah  Smith  c 

June  5, 1S57. 
James  H.  Sillcocks  to     Wilhelma  V.  Hoagland 


APPEI^DIX. 


221 


September  4,  1S5T. 
Elizabeth  IJausch  in 

December  4, 1857. 

John  IT.  Hooker  Emily  0.  Hooker  m 

Elniira  Bullman,  w.  of 
II.  C.  Hooker 

March  5,  ISoS. 


Adaline  Van  Derbilt  ?« 
Eliza  Ann  Gordon  m 
Abby  Eliza  Gordon  m 
Cornelia  H.  Gordon 
Mary  Jane  Iloagland  m 
Mrs.   Sarah   Ann   Sill- 
cocks,    w.  of  Benja- 
min Kurman 
John  S.  Dehart  m 
George  V.  Smith  m 
Peter  Melvin  Gordon  m 
3.  Baat  c 


Sarah  M.  Dehart  m 
Helen  Tlionipson  m 
Deborah  P.  Provost 
Ann  Matilda,   w.  of  T. 

W.  V.  P.  Mercereau 
Peter  V.  C.  Suydam  ) 
Sarah  A.  Sperling     ( 
Margaret  Lott  c  m 
Kachel  Van  Dorea  c  p  C 


Caroline  Remsen 
John  Van  Arsdale 
Henry  V.  D.  Schenk 
Richard  Garretson 


June  4,  1858. 

Ida  Maria  Nelson  m       Sarali  L.  Cowenhoven  m 
Anna   Maria  Skillman  Ahbie  Louisa  Jenkins »n 

7?l  Jane  Maria  Jenkins,  w. 

Eliza  Jane  Bodine  of  John  Y.  Brokaw 

Margaret  Ryder,  w.  of  Lucretia  Ann  AVyckoff, 

Joiin  Ackerman  m  w.  of  Edward  Tunison 

Mary     Elizabeth    Wy-      m 

ckoff  m  Hannah  A.  Fisher  m 

Augusta  McDonald  m    Getty  Ann  Mnnley,  w.  of 
Edward  F.  llandolph  |       Matthew  E.  Bergen  m 
Elizabeth   Smith,  w.    of 

John  Verbrycke  m 
George  Buttler  m 
Rvnear  V.  N.  Quick 
C/ilbertS.  Van  Pelt  m 
Maria  Elizabeth,  wid.  of  Henry     H.     Van     Ain- 

Dr.  G.  A.  Van  Dykec      burgh  m 
Sarah  Hoagland  Morel  Dunham  c     \ 

Abby  Freeuian,  wid.  of  Lucinda c        ) 

Job  Wells  »i  Abby  M.  Miller  m 

Kachel   Francis,  w.  of  Richard  M.  Wuitbeck 
Thomas  Quick  c  "i  L    f 

September  3,  1S58. 
Jane    Bergen,  wid.    of  Ezekial  Vunk  m 

Simon  Hillyer  Ann  Louisa  Hoagland 

Maria  Hillyer,  wid.  of      m 

Stephen  J.  Emmans     Julia  AUetta  Van  Do- 
Maria  Louisa  Van  Tine     ren  in 

December  3, 1858. 
Ann  Eliza  Eooraem,  w.  Ann  Van  Liew  e 

of  John  Van  Arsdale  Helen  Nafey  m 

in  Jane  Van  Nostrand,  w. 

William  E.  S.  Dehart  «i      of  Andrew  Ten  Eyck 
Elloner      Ten     Broeck      m 

SUillman,  wid.  of  Pe-  John  H.  Tapping  in 

ter  ^'an  Tine  m 

March  4,  1859. 

Andrew  Ten  Eyck  m      Mary  Ann  Cowenhoven 
Anna  Matilda  Bogert         m 
John  S.  Outcalt  m 

Jd.vbIT,  1859. 
Caroline  S.  Van  Neste  Hannah  Francis  c 


Matthew  E.  Bergen  c  m 

September  2, 1859. 
Elizabeth  Kevins 
Christiana      Manning, 
w.  of  John  T.  Jenkins  m 


DiXEMBER  2, 1859. 

Martha  V.  Wilson  c  John  Beekman  cm  \ 
Richard    M.    Beekman  Sarah  E.  Manley  e  w  j 

c  m 
Nathaniel  Scudder  c  p 

March  3, 1860. 

Charles  A.  Richmond  »i  Elizabeth  Smith,  w.    of 
James  Henry  Titus  c  p      Duncan  McNair  in 

Jdne  1,  18G0. 

Abraham  P.  Provost  ni  William  Whj-te 
Eliza  W.,  will,  of  Cor-  AdamLutzcwi 
nelius  Shaddle 

August  31,  ISGO. 

Slargaret  McNair  in      Jacob  D.  Wyckoff 
Mary  A.   Marshall,  w. 

of      Henry     V.     D. 

Schenk  c 

December  1,  16C0. 

Phebe,  wid.  of  Michael  Julia  Smith,  w.  of  Re 

Nevius  c  m  William  Cornell 

Matilda  Nevius,  c  m 
Sarah  M.  Nevius  c  m 

March  1, 1861. 

Lydia  D.   Shotwell,  w.  Maria    L.    Sciienck,  w. 

of  A.  M.  Gordons         of    Isaac  V.  D.   Wil 
Mary  AUetta  Wortman      liamson  c  in 

cp  C 

August  31, 1S61. 

Helena  V.  Bergen,  w. 
of  Henry  D.  iJergen 
C  m 

November  29, 1861. 

V.  M.  Wyckoff  Suydam  m 

February  28,  1862. 
Runyon  R.  Outcalt  m 

Mat  30,  18G3. 

Ann  Crooks  McNair  Ann  Disborough  in 

Sarah  M.   Disborough,  William    H.   Van  Liew 

w.  of  David  M.  Bo-  cpm 

gart in 

December  5, 1862. 

Mary   Ann   Buclcelew,  Richard    M.    Plumb  1 
w.     of    George     W.      ley  c  >- 

Schenck  Sarah  Doremus  C  j 

Mrs.  Elnora,  w.  of  Rev.  Amelia  P.  Berg  c  m 
J.  F.  Berg,  D.D.  c  in  Herman  C.  Berg  c  m 

Anna  F.  Berg  c 

June  5, 1863. 

Abigal  D.  Wyckoff,  w.  Mary  Elizabeth  Cole  C 
of  Rev.  David  Cole  c 

September  4, 1863. 

Jane  H.  Manley,  wid.  of  Sarah  Maria  Clark  m 
A.  S.  Bevier  c 

December  11, 1863. 

Josephine  Nevius  m,  John  V.  M.  Wyckoff  1 
Fannie  H.,  w.  of  Rev.      cm  > 

R.  H.  Steele  C  in  Anna  Walters  c         ) 

Lizzie  T.  Kelley,  w.  of  Margaretla  F.  Clark  c  m 

H.     H.     Van     Am- 

burgh  c  m 


222 


APPENDIX. 


JiARcn  4,  18C4. 


Cornelius  L.   Emmons 


m 
Cliarles  M.  Webber  m  I 
Sarali  M.  lierjrt-n  m      \ 
Saiali  Agnes  liooksta- 

ver 
Klizabetli  Miller  m 
Mary     lli'.'gins,    w.   of 

Henry  Hoaglanii  cm 
Adaline  W.  lloaglaud 

c  m 
Wary  'Willianison,  w.  of 

Jobn  Hrunton  c  m 
Annie  II.  Foster,  w.  of 

T.  1$.  lioor;ieni  c  m 
Martlia    15.   Van    Nos- 

tranil,  c  in 


John  Bninson  ni 
Mary  Klizal>eth  Frank- 
en,  w.  of  K.  T.  D.  Spa- 
der wi 
F.lizabeth  Van  Nostrand 
Eliza  Evans  Voorlieesjn 
Ann    Ldtt,   w.    of  John 

Eldert  c 
Maria     Nifrhmnster,  w. 

of  J.  G.  Tayhir  c 

Parah  L.  lloagland  c  m 

hetitia  Urunsnn,  wid.  of 

Abraham  Suydam  crit 

Emily     Darker,     w.    of 

Abraham  V.  ScUenck 

c  m 


JCNE  3,  1SC4. 


Catharine  Farmer,   w. 

of  Peter  Cornell  m 
Pusan  D.  Nevius  m 
Jane  A.  Wyckoff  «t 
Cassie  WyekolT"//i 
Cornelia  Voorhees  m 
Louisa  Augusta  Apple- 
pate  m 
Ellen  S.  Clark  m 
Jolin  n.  gtrykerc  | 
Jane  A'an  Tine  C    f 
Ellen  Ann   Nevius,  w. 
of  E.  V.  T.  Brunson 
m 
Mrs.   Martha  J.,  w.  of 
J.  S.  Dehart  c  m 


Abraham  S.  Johnson  1 
m  > 

Almira  J.  Meyer  in     ) 
Jemima  M.  Manley  m 
Abigal  Maria  Dehart  m 
Sarah  Johnson  m 
Sarah  S  Voorhees  m 
Abraham  Ulew 
Isaac  Covert  cm  \ 

Rachel  Ann  Smith  cw  f 
Mrs.  Harriet  W.vckoll"  c 
Mrs.  Caroline,  w.  of  Otis 

D.  Stewart  c  ni 
Amanda  Stewart  7n 


Nicholas  W.  Pa rsellw  I  Catharine  Eliza  Stry- 
JaneU.Van  Arsdale  771  >-  ker,  w.  of  Josjah 
James  McNair  7/1.  J      Schenck  c  m 

Ellen  Wyckoir,  w.  of  J. 
V.  N.  Garretson  c  m 

Marcu  1,1866. 

Ruth  \.  Berdine  m  Peter  R.  Boice  c  m  \ 
John  Van  Xuis,  Sr.  m  Sarah  S.  Schenck  c  m  j 
0.  A.  Kibbey  c  »i  I  I'erdinand   F.   Cortel-'l 

Catharine  SlrykerC7>i  f     you  c  771  I 

James  \V.  Van  Eiew  c  Margaret  G.  Harriet  1' 
John  I!.  Cortrlynu  <-?;i      cm  J 

Martha  Elizabeth  Mau- 
ley 111 

M.iTSl.lSCC. 

Ella  Garretson  in 
James  C.  Garretson  »7t 
AVilliam  SAillman 
Isaac  S.  Si-heuck  in 
Mary    Ilalstead,   \y.   of 
James  C.  Van  Arsdale 
cm 
Joanna  Stothoff,    w.    of 

John  Coi  telyou  in 
Ann  .■\\igust.i,  \v.  of  Gar- 
ret V.  Wilson  c  7/1 


September  2,  ISG-t. 
Rebecca  Packer,  w.  of  Oscar  Johnson  Jr.  c  in 

AVilliam  .Maloy  in         Margaret  Tinnnons,  w. 
Garret  Pulhemus  c  J«  I      of  Cornelius  Hoagland 
Cornli.  II.  Gordon  c  771  i      m 
Eliza  S.t'chenck.wid.  of  Sarah  A.  A'an  Arsdale, 

Edward  Manning  m        w.  of Smith  m 

December  1,  1864. 

Margaret  C.   Sillcocks  Martlia  F.  Hanlen  m 

in  Peter  Brunson  in 

Samuel  S.A'anAnglen  771  Abigal  Voorhees,  \v.  of 
Miss  llattie  A.  Foster  c      N.  B.  Dehart  c  in 

March  2,  1S64 

Letitia  Van  Arsdale  m    Cornelia   Smock,   w.  of 
Sarali  lloiigland  in  Robert  Rowland  77i 

Mary  P.  Spangler,  w.  of  Jlary  Jane,  w.  of  Edwin 
Thomas  M.  Letsou  c      Stewart  c  in 

June  1,  1865. 

Sarah  S.  Bergen  in  Amelia  Brunson  771 

Margaret  J.  lieekman  771  Ellen   V.  Manle.v,  w.  of 

Joanna  Brunson  m  Rev.    Cornelius   Wy- 

Jane     P^lizabeth    Wy-  ckolT  c 
ckoff7?i 

August  31, 1805. 
Slary  Connett  7?i  Jlatilda  S.  Hall  m 

John  C.  Hall  771  Mrs.  Mary  Latcher,  w. 

Abigal  M..  w.  of  Henry      of  Adam  Lutz  774 
M.  Price  m 

November  30, 1865. 

Catharine  L.  Van  Nuis,  Mary  B.  Remsen 
w.   of  J.   V.  H.  Van  Ellen  Louisa  Wyckoff 
Clecf  m  Anna  C.  Beekman  m 


Mrs.  Elizabeth  C.  War- 
ner in 

Mattie  M.  Garretson  771 

John  V.  H.  Van  Cleef 
m 

Archibald  Craig  Voor- 
hees 771 

Charles  H.  Steele  7)1 

Mrs.  Catharine  Rapple 
yea  c  m 

Lizzie  A.  Van  Cleef  in 

Caroline  Van  Arsdale, 
w.  of  James  A.  Ber- 
gen 771 

Algust  so,  186G. 

Carrie  A.  Coddington  m  Levi  Levy  m 
.laeobE.  Bookstaver  771  Susan   M.,  w.  of  John 
Susan  Van  Neste  in  C.  Vooiliees  m 

Jerome  I!.  Borden  f  771  (Garret  Q.  Brokaw  c  7n  1 

Rebecca  A.  c  in    j"  Elizabeth  Cortelyou  c  V 

Mavia    Schenk,    w.    of      m  ) 

William  H.  William-  Mary  Jane  JlcWilliams 

son  m  c  774 

William  T.  Manley  7?l 

November  29,  1S66. 

Ephraim  _  Van      Tine  Louisa  Ackerman  c  in 
Brunsin  7»  Sally  Dehart  r  7;i 

Adaline  Horton,  w.  of  Matilda   Ann   Stephens 
AVilliam  Fl  igi  c  m         cp  m 

Maggie    E.    Ackerman  Phebe  Davis  f7)i 
w.  of  William  H.  Al-  Catharine  Davis  c  in 
endorph  c  in  Amelia  Ackerman  c  ill 

Ferbpakv  28,  1S6T. 


Catharine  Miller,  w.  of 
Isaac  Williamson  m 
Matilda  Garretson  774 
Charles  D.  Voo  hees  774 
Frances  Turnbull,  wid. 
of     James   W.    Van 
Tview  7)4 
Fdwin  Stewart  c  in 
Theodore  Quick  c  774     I 
Cornelia  Johnson  c  in  j 
Catliarine  Burhans,C774 
Elizabeth  Atkinson, 
wid.  of  J.  F.  Hart  m 
Abbie  Voorhees  7*4 


Robert  L.  Hoagland  m 
Otis  D.  Stewart  774 
Mary    Bulman,    w.    of 

James  Nicholson  J7i 
Mary  Lenn,  w.  of  Prof. 

Jacob  Cooper  77! 
Sarah  Clark,  wid.  of  Rev. 

Anthony  Elmendorf  C 

in 
Harriet   Stryker,   vr.   of 

N.  D.  .Atkinson  c  in 
Jane  V.,  w.  of  John  Wal- 

dron  c  in 
Henry  L.  Elmendorf 


Mat  30, 1867. 

Susannah  B.  Hoagland  Mercy  A.  Hoagland  m 

in  Eliza  A.  Beavers  774 

Julia  McDonald  774  Gertrude  EldriilgeTTl 

Cornelia  J.  Suydam  774  Mary  E.  Fldrid'.'e  m 

Anna  Ten  Eick  m  Catharine  Raus''h  in 

Mary  Stout  774  Frederick  0.  Van  Deur- 
Abrabam  P.  Cox  774  sen  7J4 

J.  Newton  Terrill  m  Sylvester  G.  Dehart  m 


APPEXDIX. 


223 


Benjamin  Smith  m  Stewart  R.  Dpli.irt  m 

lioward  M.  Van  Cleef  w  Silas  Vi.  Sillcooks  m 
Jacob  W   Schenck  «i      Cliauncey  P.  Wlieeler  n^ 
Uachel  F.  Dunliam  m     Anna  Sniitli  c  m 
Ciertrude  Beekman,  vr.  Harriet  Goiidaril,  w.  of 
of  Benjamin  Smitli  c      John  R.  DeJIott  c  m 
m  Maiy  F.  Outcalt  c  p  m 

Mary  Jane  Van  Deur- 
sen  c  m 


ArGrsT29, 1S67. 

Catharine  Ann  Outcalt,  Annie  H.  Billis,  w.  of 
w.  of  Abraham  P.  Richard  P.  Fisber  c»i 
Provost  m  Gertrude   F.    Fislier,  w. 

Kate  Siiydam  m  of  J.  C.  Scott  c  m 


Annie  B.  Schenckwi  Eliza  F.  'Williams,  w.  of 
Sarah  P.  Manley  c  m  AVilliam  E.  De  Hart  rii 
Sarah  Ann  Manley,  w.    Hannah,   wid.   of    Wm. 

of  Solomon   Painter       McDonald 

C  m 
Hannah  M.  By  ram,  w. 

of  Rev.  A.  McKelvey 

c  m 

November  29,  1SC7. 

Sarah    French,  w.    of  Clara  A.  Jones  7n 

Peter  J.  Suydam  7n    Jeremiah  V.  D.  Stryker 
Stajrgie  H.  Suydam  m       m 
Mary  Jane  Suydam  m  Sarah  A.  Schofie'd   c  in 
Henrietta  Suydam  ?;t 


